Following a review of our Public Safety Bylaw, we think there are some changes that could help this Bylaw to better serve the needs of our community. We are proposing to change the name of the Bylaw to ‘Community Safety Bylaw’, which reflects a broader focus on safety - not just in public places, but also to address issues on private property. We think the name change will make it easier to understand what the Bylaw is all about, and allow us to continue supporting happy, healthy, and harmonious communities.

Towards the end of last year, we undertook some early engagement on our Public Amenities Bylaw and Public Safety Bylaw (now the Community Safety Bylaw and Cemeteries Bylaw). We held some pop in events, asked for your thoughts through a survey and arranged some targeted community meetings. You can read more about the feedback received during early engagement here.

Here is a summary of the key themes:

Monitoring and enforcement - the community raised concerns about the adequacy of monitoring and enforcement of the Bylaws. This includes a lack of understanding of what is covered by the Bylaws and how we enforce them.

Smoke nuisance from fires: concerns were received about smoke from outdoor fires, including the impact on air quality, health, and general enjoyment. Many indicated a lack of awareness about what types of fires are permitted, how complaints are managed, and what enforcement actions are taken. Some submitters wanted stricter controls over fires and suggestions were made to produce guidance for the community to reduce nuisances from smoke.

Drug use/sale: the community raised concerns regarding the impact of drug use and sales in public areas, including parks and town centres (particular concern raised in Te Aroha). Respondents expressed frustration with the visibility of drug-related activities, the lack of enforcement of existing laws, the risk and intimidation to community members (particularly older people), and the limited effectiveness of current Bylaws in addressing these issues. Some respondents suggested we should take more responsibility in this area through the installation of CCTV cameras.

Mobility scooters: the community has raised concerns about the safety of mobility scooter users, particularly in busy areas of Morrinsville. There were frequent reports of near misses between mobility scooters and pedestrians.

Control of domestic cats: Some submitters called on us to introduce regulations in the Bylaw for the control of cats. The concerns relate to environmental impact, nuisances, and public health. Concerns have been received about stray cats, feral populations, and unregistered pets that lead to nuisance behaviour.

Note: During early engagement we received a wealth of valuable feedback on a range of topics, and we deeply appreciate your input. While not all feedback may directly shape this Bylaw, it will be considered for future processes, including upcoming reviews such as the Dog Control Bylaw and the Land Transport Bylaw. Additionally, your feedback has been shared with the Councillors and relevant teams to support their operational work. Thank you for helping us improve our community together.

You can read more about these changes in our Statement of Proposal here.

We have carefully considered the feedback received and are suggesting the following changes to incorporate community feedback and legislative changes:

The key changes proposed are:

•          The Community Safety Bylaw has been structured to assist in readability and understanding through the separation of clauses into distinct parts. This means that the community will be able to find applicable rules more easily.

•          Definitions have been added/amended from our Introductory Bylaw 2020 to ensure this Bylaw is able to be read as a standalone document.

•          Explanatory notes have been added to assist in understanding and to provide context for the reader. They do not form part of the Bylaw and can be updated at any time without formality. This includes information on monitoring and enforcement, and the ability for the community to report any Bylaw breaches. Information has also been added to reflect the community concerns received during early engagement.

•          The community shared what makes a bad neighbour - things like cats using lawns as litter boxes, chickens wandering into your yard, and neighbours burning materials that create unpleasant smoke. In response, we've strengthened the clause on animal nuisance, allowing us to take necessary actions to reduce animal nuisances.

•          We've also updated the smoke nuisance clause to reference the Health Act 1956, giving us the authority to address concerns or complaints about smoke problems.

•          We want to ensure we are including issues where appropriate and where we can have the most impact so we are proposing the removal of clauses where we don't have the mandate to investigate, or where legislation has replaced these clauses, e.g. illegal behaviour, food hygiene, and safety requirements for hostels.

The Community Safety Bylaw will set out rules to help keep our public spaces safe and minimise nuisances and anti-social behaviour. This Bylaw helps to support safe and vibrant communities.

The Community Safety Bylaw will focus on key issues like:

• Managing public behaviour in shared spaces to support community safety.

• Ensuring safe use of public areas, streets, and facilities.

• Protecting community wellbeing and enjoyment of public spaces.

• Promoting healthy and safe environments in our towns by including alcohol ban areas and no skate zones.

Let's talk! Read the draft bylaw, and share your thoughts about what is important to you. Your feedback will help shape how we support safety and harmony in our towns, communities, and neighbourhoods.

• Current Bylaw
• Tauira Ture ā-Rohe mō te Haumarutanga o te Hapori 2025 ǀ Draft Community Safety Bylaw 2025
• Tauākī Tūtohu | Statement of Proposal

Feedback from early engagement

Drop-in sessions:

📍 Morrinsville Country Market
Canada Street (by the Council office/Library and along Canada Street)
Saturday 1 March, 8am-12.30pm

📍 Matamata Market and Craft Fair
Matamata Primary School, 115a Broadway, Matamata
Saturday 8 March, 7.30am-12.30pm

📍 Te Aroha, A Day at the Domain
Whitaker Street, Te Aroha
Sunday 9 March, 10am-2pm

Contact us if you have any enquiries or want to know more about the draft Bylaw or consultation process.

We’ve drafted a Cemeteries Bylaw that we think addresses the issues raised by our community, and want your input. Your feedback helps us to ensure our cemeteries remain respectful and peaceful places.

We started talking to the community about our Public Amenities Bylaw and Public Safety Bylaw (now the Community Safety Bylaw and Cemeteries Bylaw), towards the end of last year. We have carefully considered the feedback and suggesting the following changes to incorporate community feedback and legislative changes.

Our Gambling Venue and TAB Venue Policies are up for review. We are required to have these policies and review them every three years by law.