This page is about a bill. That means that it's not the law yet, but some people want it to be the law. It could change quickly, and some of the information is just a draft.

Planning Bill

Enforcement and other matters - Enforcement - Excessive noise directions

247: Meaning of excessive noise

You could also call this:

"What is excessive noise that disturbs people's peace and comfort?"

In this proposed law, excessive noise refers to any noise that you can control and that unreasonably interferes with someone's peace, comfort, and convenience. This does not include noise from aircraft, vehicles on roads, or trains, except when trains are being tested or maintained. You will also need to consider noise standards set by national rules when deciding what is excessive noise. Excessive noise can include loud music, appliances, or machines, as well as noise from people or explosions. When deciding if noise is excessive, you must think about how it affects others, not just the people making the noise. The proposed law aims to clarify what is meant by excessive noise in the context of the Planning Bill.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1528934.

This page was last updated on 12 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Environment and resources > Town planningHousing and property > Home safety and repairsHousing and property > Land use

246: Restrictions on certain applications for enforcement orders and abatement notices, or

"Some actions are exempt from court orders and notices"

248: Issue and effect of excessive noise direction, or

"What happens when someone complains about excessive noise"

Part 6Enforcement and other matters
Enforcement: Excessive noise directions

247Meaning of excessive noise

In this Act, the excessive noise means any noise that is under human control and of such a nature as to unreasonably interfere with the peace, comfort, and convenience of any person (other than a person in or at the place from which the noise is being emitted), but does not include any noise emitted by any—
aircraft being operated during, or immediately before or after, flight; or
vehicle being driven on a road (within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Land Transport Act 1998); or
train, other than when being tested (when stationary), maintained, loaded, or unloaded.

Without limiting subsection (1), excessive noise—
includes noise that exceeds a standard for noise prescribed by a national rule; and
may include noise emitted by—
1. a musical instrument; or
2. an electrical appliance; or
3. a machine, however powered; or
4. a person or group of persons; or
5. an explosion or vibration.