Development Contributions

Development Contributions (DCs) are the contributions that the Council levies on the developers of new properties, and new development that places additional demand on infrastructure in the District. These funds are used to provide the additional community infrastructure,  reserves, roads and/or water, sewer and stormwater (drainage) services needed to meet the demands generated by new residential and non-residential developments, or new connections to Council networks. Contributions, therefore, are used to cater for the growth in demand for infrastructure that comes from new properties or activities.

We have provided the following documents to help you understand Development Contributions;

• The Development Contributions Policy which sets out the basis on which development contributions will be charged. The aim of the Policy is to share the cost of infrastructure fairly between the owners of existing properties, and the owners and developers of new properties or developments.
• The Development Contribution schedule maps provide a map for each of the Development Contribution areas to which Development Contributions specifically apply. The associated contribution for each area and service can be reviewed in the Development Contribution Schedule. It is noted there are some scheme or District wide DCs that do not have maps.
• The Development Contribution Schedule provides a list of all the current Development Contributions effective from 1 July 2026.
• The detailed Development Contribution schedule 2026-27 provides a summary of the Development Contribution calculations for each service and area.

The Development Contribution Policy and associated documents are reviewed on an annual basis as part of the Annual Plan and/ Long-term Plan process.

The 2026-27 Policy includes the following changes from the previous year’s policy:

• Updated terminology to align with the new Partially Operative Waimakariri District Plan 2025
• Introduced a table to clearly outline the time periods covered by specific Development contributions
• Consolidated sections to eliminate duplicated information and improve document clarity.

Financial Contributions

Financial contributions are levied on existing infrastructure, where upgrades are necessary to enable development that has not been anticipated or planned for.

Financial contributions must be for the purpose of:

• Enabling people and communities to provide for their health, safety and economic, social and cultural wellbeing;
• Sustaining the potential of resources to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations;
• Maintaining the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems; and
• Avoiding, remedying and mitigating adverse effects of activities on the natural and physical environment.