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Noise Control

How to make a complaint

Noise control is treated as an urgent matter. Please RING Council on 0800 801 350 any time day or night at the time the noise is happening.

Our online system is not checked after hours or at the weekend so will not be seen until the next working day. Noise complaints are required to be actioned in real time to confirm if there is an excessive noise level.

When calling please have the following information available-

  • Address (approximate is fine) of where the noise is coming from.
  • Type of noise e.g. loud stereo.

*Please note general talking, however loud is not classed as excessive noise.

What happens when you make a complaint

Our noise control officer will attend the location of the noise to assess whether it is excessive. If there is excessive noise, they will:

  • Ask the occupants to reduce the volume and give a written “excessive noise direction” limiting noise from the property for 72-hours.
  • A secondary check will be undertaken to ensure that they are complying with the written notice.
  • If they are found to be breaching the 72-hour notice a Noise Control Officer, accompanied by a Police Officer will attend the site and seize the stereo or other equipment causing the noise. A recovery cost is required to be paid before the equipment is returned; equipment seized from a distance such as Tapanui for example is likely to invoice costs in the order of $500.

We are also able to issue Abatement Notices for problems that are more serious and occur over a longer time period of time. These last indefinitely until Council are willing to remove them or until an appeal is lodged and is decided upon by a court.

Be considerate of your neighbors

  • Be aware of the impact of your noise on your neighbours.
  • If you intend to have a party, carry out any building work or any other noisy activity on your property, consider letting your neighbours know first.
  • Complete any noisy outside activities, e.g. mowing lawns, at a reasonable time of day. Avoid loud activities early in the morning on weekends and public holidays.
  • Comply with any resource consent noise restrictions.

Resource Management Act 191 (RMA)

The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) is the legislation that controls noise. The RMA also provides scope for enforcement measures that may be used for the control of unreasonable and excessive noise (including vibration).

  • Every occupier of land (including any premises and any coastal marine area), and every person carrying out an activity in, on, or under a water body or the coastal marine area, shall adopt the best practicable option to ensure that the emission of noise from that land or water does not exceed a reasonable level.

  • In this Act, the term excessive noise means any noise that is under human control and of such a nature as to unreasonably interfere with the peace, comfort, and convenience of any person (other than a person in or at the place from which the noise is being emitted), but does not include any noise emitted by any—
  • Without limiting subsection (1), excessive noise—
  • aircraft being operated during, or immediately before or after, flight; or
  • vehicle being driven on a road (within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Land Transport Act 1998); or
  • train, other than when being tested (when stationary), maintained, loaded, or unloaded.
  • includes noise that exceeds a standard for noise prescribed by a national environmental standard; and
  • may include noise emitted by—
  • a musical instrument; or
  • an electrical appliance; or
  • a machine, however powered; or
  • a person or group of persons; or
  • an explosion or vibration.

  • Any enforcement officer, or any constable acting upon the request of an enforcement officer, who—
  • A direction under subsection (1) may be given in writing or orally.
  • Every direction under subsection (1) shall prohibit the person to whom it is given, and every other person bound by the direction, from causing or contributing to the emission of excessive noise from or within the vicinity of the place at any time during the period of 72 hours or such shorter period as the enforcement officer or constable specifies, commencing at the time the direction is given.
  • The powers under this section are in addition to the powers under sections 322 to 325 to issue abatement notices relating to unreasonable noise and to seek an enforcement order under section 316.
  • Has received a complaint that excessive noise is being emitted from any place; and
  • Upon investigation of the complaint, is of the opinion that the noise is excessive, — may direct the occupier of the place from which the sound is being emitted, or any other person who appears to be responsible for causing the excessive noise, to immediately reduce the noise to a reasonable level.
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