Re notification of Proposed Plan Change 5: Accessible Parking

Thank you for your interest, submissions closed at 5pm Friday, 7 July 2023.


In 2020, the Government required all councils to remove minimum parking requirements from their District Plans (The following link opens in a new window.National Policy Statement - Urban Development 2020: Section 3.38). These provisions were removed from the Whakatāne District Plan (District Plan) in December 2021.

The District Plan currently contains no reference to accessible parking, but instead relies on New Zealand Standards (NZS 4121: 2001) which sets the number of accessible car parks as a ratio of the total number of car parks provided.

What's happening now?

This means that changes will need to be made to the District Plan to ensure accessible parking can still be required where appropriate.

Prior to Government's removal of minimum parking provisions from the District Plan, developers were required by the New Zealand Standards (NZS 4121: 2001) to include accessible car parks as a ratio of the total number of car parks provided. Table 1 below shows the ratio of accessible car parks to the total number of car parks as required by NZS 4121:2001.

Table 1: Number of accessible car parks required under NZS 4121:2001

Total number of car parksNumber of accessible car park
1 - 20Not less than 1
21 - 50Not less than 2
For every additional 50 car parks or part of a car parkNot less than 1


NZS 4121:2001 still applies even with the removal of minimum carparking requirements from the District Plan. This means that if one car park is included in a development, at least one accessible car park must be provided. However, if a developer chooses not to provide any car parks, the Council currently cannot consider whether accessible car parking is appropriate when assessing a resource consent application or require the provision of accessible car parks.

Proposed Plan Change 5: Accessible Parking
Te Tūtohunga Panonitanga 5: Tūnga Waka Whai Huarahi

Identifies where accessible parking must be provided and sets an absolute minimum number of accessible car parks in those situations. The minimum number complies with the requirements in NZS 4121:2001.

Comprises 18 minor changes to the District Plan that will enable the Council to consider during the consenting process whether the provision of accessible parking would be appropriate.

If Plan Change 5 is not implemented, decisions around providing accessible car parking will be made by developers and the Council will have no input into the consenting process.

This may result in developers choosing whether or not to provide accessible parking and how many car parks they provide.

Without implementing the proposed Plan Change 5, access and mobility would be limited for some members of the community. This could prevent them from accessing some businesses and services.

Not to implement Plan Change 5 is considered contrary to the Council's aim to deliver the best possible social and economic outcomes for the community.

Kōrero Mai - Tell us what you think

Submissions closed 5pm Friday 7 July 2023.

In 2020, the Government required all councils to remove minimum parking requirements from their District Plans (The following link opens in a new window.National Policy Statement - Urban Development 2020: Section 3.38). These provisions were removed from the Whakatāne District Plan (District Plan) in December 2021.

The District Plan currently contains no reference to accessible parking, but instead relies on New Zealand Standards (NZS 4121: 2001) which sets the number of accessible car parks as a ratio of the total number of car parks provided.

What's happening now?

This means that changes will need to be made to the District Plan to ensure accessible parking can still be required where appropriate.

Prior to Government's removal of minimum parking provisions from the District Plan, developers were required by the New Zealand Standards (NZS 4121: 2001) to include accessible car parks as a ratio of the total number of car parks provided. Table 1 below shows the ratio of accessible car parks to the total number of car parks as required by NZS 4121:2001.

Table 1: Number of accessible car parks required under NZS 4121:2001

Total number of car parksNumber of accessible car park
1 - 20Not less than 1
21 - 50Not less than 2
For every additional 50 car parks or part of a car parkNot less than 1


NZS 4121:2001 still applies even with the removal of minimum carparking requirements from the District Plan. This means that if one car park is included in a development, at least one accessible car park must be provided. However, if a developer chooses not to provide any car parks, the Council currently cannot consider whether accessible car parking is appropriate when assessing a resource consent application or require the provision of accessible car parks.

Proposed Plan Change 5: Accessible Parking
Te Tūtohunga Panonitanga 5: Tūnga Waka Whai Huarahi

Identifies where accessible parking must be provided and sets an absolute minimum number of accessible car parks in those situations. The minimum number complies with the requirements in NZS 4121:2001.

Comprises 18 minor changes to the District Plan that will enable the Council to consider during the consenting process whether the provision of accessible parking would be appropriate.

If Plan Change 5 is not implemented, decisions around providing accessible car parking will be made by developers and the Council will have no input into the consenting process.

This may result in developers choosing whether or not to provide accessible parking and how many car parks they provide.

Without implementing the proposed Plan Change 5, access and mobility would be limited for some members of the community. This could prevent them from accessing some businesses and services.

Not to implement Plan Change 5 is considered contrary to the Council's aim to deliver the best possible social and economic outcomes for the community.

Kōrero Mai - Tell us what you think

Submissions closed 5pm Friday 7 July 2023.