Bylaw review - Keeping of Stock, Poultry and Bees

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Let’s talk about animals in town - we’re updating our bylaw

We’re reviewing our Keeping of Stock, Poultry and Bees Bylaw, the rules that help manage animals in our townships to prevent nuisance and keep our communities safe and happy.

The updated version will be called the Animal Nuisance Bylaw and it still covers the same things – like where you can keep animals such as chickens, horses, or beehives in Ōtorohanga, Kāwhia, and Aotea. Most of the changes we’re proposing are small, but they make a big difference in making the bylaw easier to understand and enforce.

Key updates include:

  • Tidying up the language and fixing macrons

  • Clarifying which areas the rules apply to

  • Introducing best practice guidance for urban beekeeping (to help reduce issues like bee poo on your washing!)

  • Aligning with Ministry for Primary Industries rules for hive registration

The purpose of this bylaw hasn’t changed – it’s about protecting public health, safety, and comfort. Council uses these rules when complaints arise, and while most issues are resolved with a friendly chat, the bylaw gives us a clear path if more action is needed.

Feedback is open from 30 June to 8 August 2025.

We want to hear what you think, especially if you keep animals, or live near someone who does.

Let’s talk about animals in town - we’re updating our bylaw

We’re reviewing our Keeping of Stock, Poultry and Bees Bylaw, the rules that help manage animals in our townships to prevent nuisance and keep our communities safe and happy.

The updated version will be called the Animal Nuisance Bylaw and it still covers the same things – like where you can keep animals such as chickens, horses, or beehives in Ōtorohanga, Kāwhia, and Aotea. Most of the changes we’re proposing are small, but they make a big difference in making the bylaw easier to understand and enforce.

Key updates include:

  • Tidying up the language and fixing macrons

  • Clarifying which areas the rules apply to

  • Introducing best practice guidance for urban beekeeping (to help reduce issues like bee poo on your washing!)

  • Aligning with Ministry for Primary Industries rules for hive registration

The purpose of this bylaw hasn’t changed – it’s about protecting public health, safety, and comfort. Council uses these rules when complaints arise, and while most issues are resolved with a friendly chat, the bylaw gives us a clear path if more action is needed.

Feedback is open from 30 June to 8 August 2025.

We want to hear what you think, especially if you keep animals, or live near someone who does.

Page last updated: 27 Jun 2025, 10:05 AM