Street numbers are allocated by Council pursuant to Section 319B of the Local Government Act 1974, (not by NZ Post as is often incorrectly thought).
Urban address numbers are allocated to all urban parcels of land in the District.
Rural address numbers (also known as RAPID numbers by some agencies) are allocated based on the standard as adopted by LINZ (Land Information New Zealand) [AS/NZS 4819:2003]. This is a method of providing rural homes with a street number for identification purposes.
Although this number will be used for your postal address, you will still need to contact NZ Post for rural postal delivery details as well as their requirements for mail delivery boxes.
How are rural address numbers allocated?
Rural address numbers are derived by a measurement between the intersection of two public roads, along the public road, to the main site entrance (access point) of a property or properties.
The number is then calculated by dividing this distance (in metres) by 10 and rounding to a whole number. The number is then allocated based on the convention of odd numbers on the left and even numbers on the right. For example, if a property has the number of 500, it is 5000m (5km) from the start of the road.
Alpha suffixes, e.g. 1015A, 1015B are used where one access point serves several properties.
Only properties with new dwellings are allocated a rural address number once a building consent has been approved. Site Plans indicating the position of the main (formed) site entrance to the property are required.
Display of rural numbers
Emergency Services, LINZ and NZ Post have a record of existing numbers and are advised of all new numbers allocated. This enables emergency services and others to easily locate your property.
In order to assist Emergency services and others in locating properties and to ensure compliance with Rodney District Council bylaw, it is essential that you display the number as soon as possible. It is recommended that number signs should be:
- Numerals at least 75mm in height
- Of high contrast and reflective – readily visible both day and night from a moving vehicle
- Placed at your access point on the side of the road to which your number relates, or close to the edge of the road if the property boundaries are set back - at least 1m above the ground
- Not placed on a gate
- Maintained in a way that easily identifies the property at all times.
Please contact Rodney District Council should you require any further information.