Handy Summer Info

Getting ready for summer? Make sure you know the rules so you can have a great holiday season on the Coromandel. We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know, from dogs on the beach, using our boat ramps and summer kerbside collections to alcohol bans, water restrictions, our holiday office hours and more. 

Stay up to date with summer dog rules 

Summer rules about where you can walk your dog are in place from Labour Weekend to 1 March, with additional restrictions and prohibitions from 20 December to 31 January. 

These rules help protect dogs, people and wildlife during busy summer periods and nesting times. 

The most important rule to remember: dogs must always be under control.  Make sure your dog is on a lead unless specified otherwise. 

Look for our traffic light signs to understand the rules about when your dogs should be on a lead:

  • Green signs denote exercise areas: You can have your dog off-leash but it must remain under control at all times.
  • Orange signs denote on leash areas: Your dog must remain on leash for times noted on the sign. This is most often temporary and in place at beaches during the summer period from 20 December to 31 January & holiday weekends, from 9am to 6pm.
  • Red signs denote prohibited areas: This means no dogs at all. Most beach area prohibitions are either during the dotterel nesting season from Labour Weekend to 1 March, or over the summer period and holiday weekends. We also have areas that are prohibited all year round.

No one wants a fine, so know the rules, follow them and let’s make it a great summer for everyone. 

Find out more


Christmas processing times for some Council services 

If you’re planning to submit a resource consent, building consent, LIM or alcohol licence application before Christmas, please take note of our Christmas and New Year processing dates.

Statutory processing timeframes pause over the Christmas and New Year period. Under the relevant legislation, the period from Sunday 20 December to the close of Sunday 10 January is excluded from statutory working days.

Resource and Building Consents

If you would like your application processed before Christmas, please submit it before Friday 20 November 2026.

This is subject to no further information being required, as requests for further information also stop the processing clock.

Applications submitted on or after Friday 18 December 2026 will not begin processing until Monday 11 January 2027.

Find out more here

Land Information Memorandums (LIMs)

If you need to receive your LIM before Christmas, please submit your application by:

  • Friday 4 December 2026 – Standard and Commercial LIMs
  • Wednesday 16 December 2026 – Priority LIMs

Applications received after the relevant deadline will be delivered after 11 January 2027.

Find out more here

Normal processing resumes on Monday 11 January 2027.

We recommend submitting applications as early as possible if you need your consent or LIM before the end of the year.

Licensing applications

Christmas processing dates are slightly different for alcohol licensing applications.

The statutory processing clock stops from 20 December to 15 January inclusive.

If you’re planning an event that requires a special licence, please submit your application by Friday 13 November 2026 to allow it to be processed before the Christmas and New Year period.

Find out more here

Getting ready for a drier summer

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Alcohol bans

  • Our district has year-round, 24/7 town centre alcohol bans, plus additional bans over Christmas, New Year, and long weekends, on many of our beaches and seaside reserves.
  • This means a person must not consume, carry, or possess alcohol in these areas unless an exemption or special licence applies.
  • Alcohol bans are in force over Christmas/New Year from 4pm on 23 December until 4pm on 6 January; over all long holiday weekends (including Anniversary weekend) from 4pm Friday to 4pm Monday and over Easter from 4pm Thursday to 4pm Tuesday each year. This means you can't consume or carry or possess opened bottles of alcohol in a ban area, or in a vehicle located in the ban area.
  • View our full Alcohol Control Bylaw here and check out our maps to view alcohol ban areas in our district.

Freedom camping

If you want to freedom camp in our district:

  • Please be a responsible camper and clean up after yourself.
  • Freedom camp only in a certified self-contained vehicle.
  • Use proper toilet facilities such as public toilets and campervan dump stations.
  • Look for our signs showing where freedom camping can take place.
  • Leave freedom camping sites by the required time.

Our Freedom Camping Bylaw and maps and lists of areas where freedom camping is prohibited, and restricted (allowed within sign-posted areas), can be found on our Freedom Camping page.

Fire permits

  • Our Council no longer issues fire permits - this is done by Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
  • During the summer season, there may be a fire ban in place. To check on restrictions and apply for a fire permit, go to their website checkitsalright.nz

Noise control rules

  • It is important that you consider neighbours when making any noise. Noise must not interfere with the peace, comfort and convenience of any person.
  • If any noise is considered excessive by a Noise Control Officer then a notice to cease the noise may be served. A notice to cease the noise is valid for 72 hours.
  • If the notice is not complied with then a Noise Control Officer and the police may enter any property and dwelling to seize any equipment used to create the noise.
  • Call our 24/7 Customer Service number 07 868 0200 if you have a noise complaint.

Horses on the beach

Here are a few things to remember when taking your horse down to the beach for some fun:

  • You can ride your horse into, on or over a public place (including beaches) if it is safe to do so and you aren't causing a nuisance to other users. A crowded beach in the height of summer isn’t the best time for a canter - please exercise your horse in a less-crowded area.
  • Share the space and remember not everyone loves your horse as much as you do, give other people room and consider using the beach when there are fewer people about
  • Make sure that you have control of your horse at all times.
  • Pick up any deposits your horse might make; dog owners have to do it, so do you.
  • Obey the road rules – if you are taking your horse on the road to get to the beach, you will need to obey the rules of the road. This will ensure your and your horse’s safety as well as that of other road users.
  • There are some reserves where horses aren't allowed, so please be on the lookout for the 'No Horses' signs. 

Vehicles on the beach

We actively discourage, and in some areas prohibit, vehicles* from beaches and reserves. Beaches should only be accessed in a vehicle to launch or retrieve a watercraft and only at designated locations. Please use your common sense: vehicles and busy beaches don’t mix. Also, check our Reserve Management Plans for vehicle restrictions on specific beaches and reserves.

Vehicles and trailers should not park on any beach, damage any vegetation or be used in a manner that is dangerous or inconsiderate to pedestrians.

*“Vehicle” shall include any conveyance equipped with wheels, rollers or tracks.

Guidelines for using drones safely

  • Civil Aviation Authority regulations require that landowners give permission before unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including drones, are flown over their property - this includes Council land.
  • Flying UAVs over Council land, such as reserves, is generally permitted so long as the operator complies with the guidelines on our website here.
  • Make sure you're aware of UAV regulations around aerodromes, as most of our towns are within 4km of an aerodrome – visit airshare.co.nz.
 

Roading and travel updates

State Highways

We encourage you to check NZTA Waka Kotahi website before you travel for the latest information about road closures, delays or work underway. NZ transport Agency contractors regularly carry out chip sealing and asphalt surfacing across the Waikato, alongside the larger infrastructure projects. The Journey Planner has live updates on worksites and other road hazards and can help you plot the best route to your destination.

More about State Highways

For more details on NZTA Waka Kotahi projects in our district, visit nzta.govt.nz/thames-coromandel

Follow NZTA Waka Kotahi for further updates.

You can also call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) to speak to the NZTA call centre team, who can provide traffic and travel information.

Council managed roads

Any updates on the status of our Council's local roads, including road closures, storm-related recovery repairs and scheduled maintenance work, is updated on our Roads website page, our Facebook page and via our e-newsletters. 

Water conservation, wastewater and stormwater care

Water conservation

Please remember: Every drop counts

Over the summer we’re asking you to be careful with water use – particularly outside with sprinklers, paddling pools or hoses.

Drier weather and more visitors put pressure on our water supply systems. We’re monitoring this closely and we’ll put in place water restrictions if needed. They’ll be announced on local radio, our website and our Facebook page.

Find out more at tcdc.govt.nz/savewater and keep up to date with water restrictions in your area at tcdc.govt.nz/waterrestrictions

Water tanks

Adding a rainwater water tank enables you to capture rain off your roof and store it for use during hot summer days, when water restrictions may be in place. It’s perfect for cleaning the car and boat or keeping the flowers, vegetables and lawns alive.

The process is simple - decide where you want to put your tank, talk to your local manufacturer about colour, size, cost and delivery, and check if your tank needs any Council consents.

A building consent is not required if the tank meets the requirements for capacity and height-above-ground. For example, the NZ Building Act allows tanks without building consent as long as they:

  • Do not exceed 35,000 litres
  • Are not plumbed into a house for use as drinking water or connected to your toilet or washing machine - find out more here
  • Are on firm ground with proper support
  • Are installed at least 1.5 metres from the boundary.

If your tank will be plumbed into a house and connected to your toilet or washing machine, a building consent is required. You'll need a registered plumber to carry out this work for you.

Find out more at tcdc.govt.nz/savewater and smarterhomes.org.nz.

Wastewater Care

Wastewater, also known as sewage, is the used water that goes down sinks, washing machines, showers, baths and toilets. Most of it is water, and the rest includes organic matter and debris such as sand, grit and plastic.

If you haven't been to your property in a while and find wastewater isn't getting cleared away quick enough, it could be due to root intrusion around the pipes. Take a look to see if any plants or weeds need to be cleared on your property. We can come and clear the pipes, but the householder will receive a bill for this service if it is on the property.

Read more about wastewater management here.

Stormwater Care

Stormwater is the runoff from land generated by rainfall or melting snow. If stormwater is not managed properly, it can flood streets and pose a threat to public health and safety, property and our oceans and waterways.

As a rule, don’t put anything down a stormwater drain that you wouldn't want to drink or swim in. Stormwater grates are only supposed to drain rain. If any pollutants get into our stormwater, they will also end up untreated in our waterways.

Do not:

  • tip unwanted chemicals such as paint for example down the drain 
  • wash your car out on the road
  • let your swimming pool water run into stormwater drains
  • store chemicals outside where they could leak and be washed into a drain.
  • use the gutter as a litter bin.

Read more about stormwater management here

Using our boat ramps, harbours and wharves

  • If you're heading out on the water this summer, we have an easy-to-use QR code payment system to pay for boat ramp and trailer parking fees at wharves.
  • We have signage in place at all boat ramps where fees are charged and a pass is required. These contain a unique QR code for each ramp, and easy-to-follow instructions for scanning, paying and downloading your receipt. 
  • Find out more here

Mautohe Cathedral Cove Walkway

If you're planning to walk to Mautohe Cathedral Cove over the summer, please plan your parking before you arrive in Hāhei.   

  • The car park at the top of Grange Road in Hāhei where the walkway begins remains permanently closed to parking - it's for drop-off and pick-up only. There's no parking along Grange Road itself. 
  • Parking in Hahei village is very limited but there's a large, and free, Council-run visitors car park at the entrance to the village - view the parking map here. You can walk or take a shuttle bus to the start of the track.
  • Paid parking is also available at the privately owned Cathedral Cove Gateway Trail at 150 Lees Road, a little bit out of Hāhei.  

People are asked to make use of these parking options to avoid congestion and safety risks from trying to find parking within the village itself. 

For those who prefer a sea approach to the Cove, commercial tour options such as kayaks and boats are also available.

For safety reasons, please avoid the track from Hahei Beach to the Grange Road track entrance (Hahei Beach Walk). This remains closed due to ongoing land instability.

Check the Department of Conservation website for more information about the track. 

Events, weddings and park hire

70 Thames Connector public bus service

  • The 70 Thames Connector provides low-cost transport from Monday to Friday, stopping at convenient locations in the Thames town centre between Tararū and Parawai.
  • Stops include Centennial Pool, the library, Pak 'n Save, Rolleston Street Medical Centre and Thames Hospital.
  • Check the route and the timetable here

Safe swimming over summer - wharves and beaches

Wharf Ambassadors (Whangamatā and Whitianga)

  • Our Council’s Wharf Ambassadors will be operating over the Christmas/New Year holiday period and through the peak summer season at Whangamatā and Whitianga wharves. They help our Council to manage and maintain activities at the wharf (wharf jumping/diving, fishing, mooring, charter operations) by making sure that all groups undertake their activity in the designated areas, to create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone.
  • Parents, please be aware of where your children are at all times. Make sure you supervise them while they are playing at the wharves. Listen to any instructions you receive from our Wharf Ambassadors and let's make this summer a safe one.

Remember these simple safety messages:

  • Only jump in areas dedicated for recreational swimming at the wharves
  • Listen to instructions from the Wharf Ambassadors so our wharves can be a safe environment for everyone to enjoy
  • Jump safely – look out for moving boats and other people
  • Jump well away from vessels
  • Please ensure your children have adult supervision at all times.

Lifejacket library

If you're heading out on your boat this summer and need an extra life jacket, our Whangamatā and Whitianga TCDC Wharf Ambassadors have you covered with the Life Jacket Library. Borrow the life jacket you need for the day at no charge and stay safe on the water. Big thanks to Safer Coromandel for making it all possible - and happy summer boating everyone.

Surf lifesaving patrols

Civil Defence - Be Prepared

Civil Defence - be prepared for an emergency

In New Zealand, we are all exposed to the risk of disasters that can include weather events, flooding, earthquakes, slips and other emergencies. We all need to understand these risks and their impact so we can keep ourselves, and our family and communities, safe.

Here are some measures we can all take to reduce the impact of disasters and be better prepared to recover quickly:

  

                                                                                    

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