Planning for growth in Kawerau
The Eastern Bay of Plenty is growing and Kawerau is part of that future. Over the past decade, the region has experienced a steady rise in population due to lifestyle appeal, improved transport connections, and more people choosing to live and work in smaller, more affordable centres.
Between 2013 and 2023, the district’s population grew by 22%, and over the next 30 years, we estimate we’ll need around 650 additional homes. We also need land for future industry and business activity.
To prepare for this growth, Kawerau District Council is working alongside Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne District Councils, iwi, and government agencies on the Our Places – Eastern Bay Spatial Plan. This is a long-term planning framework that looks at how and where growth should occur across the Eastern Bay, ensuring the right homes, jobs, and services are in the right places, now and into the future.
Kawerau is a proud, close-knit community with a strong industrial foundation and a distinctive identity. While our district covers just 24 km², we are home to major manufacturing operations, key transport links, and a growing population. Because land is limited, we need to plan carefully, making the most of what we have, and making sure growth happens in a way that benefits current and future generations.
New homes and businesses
We’re already taking action in Kawerau, with key projects and planning work underway to support future growth. Council is focused on making sure we have enough homes to meet demand and the right land available for new businesses and industry.
Housing Development
• Infill Housing
Through the current District Plan review, Council is exploring ways to enable more homes within existing neighbourhoods. This means encouraging smaller sections, duplex housing, and a greater variety of housing types that suit different lifestyles and household sizes.
• New Housing – Stoneham Park Residential Development
Council is progressing well with development at Stoneham Park, which will provide 104 new residential sections. This is a significant opportunity to grow our housing supply in a well-located area that has now become zoned for residential use. Stoneham Park is expected to roll out over the short to medium term and is a key part of our strategy to meet future housing demand.
• Residential Growth Precinct
Already operative under District Plan 4, this precinct enables more flexible housing development, including smaller lot sizes (as little as 10m wide) and duplex housing. These rules make it easier and more affordable to build in Kawerau. This residential growth precinct is now in place over the Stoneham Park Residential Development.
• District Plan review and potential changes. Further discussions are ongoing about whether these residential growth precinct rules in District Plan 4 could add value across the wider Kawerau district. Areas such as off-road parking and whether minimum section sizes should be introduced, could also be addressed. The views of the community are important for these decisions.
• Other areas of the District Plan review include reviewing how land is zoned that is owned by Iwi and Māori Trusts to assist with the future aspirations. The district plan reviews will speak to owners who may wish their land to be zoned Māori Purpose Land in the future to more readily enable development, such as Papakāinga housing. How other land may be zoned for business, commercial and industrial use is also being reviewed within the District Plan. Council is currently seeking feedback from various sectors.
Future Industrial Development
• Putauaki Trust Industrial Development
Kawerau is the industrial heart of the Eastern Bay, and the Putauaki Trust Industrial Development is central to this. Located northeast of the township, this large industrial zone is already home to major processing operations. Now, it's being positioned to attract new commercial and industrial business ventures.
Let’s keep building on what makes Kawerau great
As part of the Our Places – Eastern Bay Spatial Plan, Kawerau District Council is now seeking local feedback to help refine and confirm our direction. We want to ensure our priorities around housing and industry reflect the needs and aspirations of our people and community.
Are we heading in the right direction?
Do our current plans reflect your hopes for Kawerau’s future?
This consultation is your opportunity to give us feedback on what housing and business development will look like in Kawerau over the next 30 years.
Open for feedback and submissions
You can make a formal submission, which will be tabled with the Councillors and be considered in the decision-making process. The closing date is 9 June 2025.
For more information, please visit the Eastern Bay of Plenty Spatial Plan website.
You can make a submission:
Facebook submissions – if you wish to make a formal submission, you will need to do so via messenger or inbox.
Email submissions@kaweraudc.govt.nz
Drop in the hard copy submission form from this consultation document to the Council Offices, isite or library weekdays.
Post the submission form to us: Chief Executive Officer, Kawerau District Council, Private Bag 1004, Kawerau 3169
Online – use the submission form below:
