Glossary of Terms

The following terms are used commonly in this Plan. For the purposes of this Plan, they should be interpreted as follows.

Activities requiring authorisation an activity that fills the criteria of Section 8. Such activities require authorisation under the Reserves Act 1977. The process for authorisation is guided by the Porirua City Council Permissions Policy (2012), a policy approved in accordance with both the Reserves Act and the Local Government Act. Part Four of this plan refers.
Administering body an administering body under the Reserves Act 1977.
Allowed activity an activity that fills the criteria of Section 6. Allowed activities can be undertaken in reserves without formality.
Aircraft any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air otherwise than by the reactions of the air against the surface of the earth (section 2, Civil Aviation Act 1990). For the purposes of this plan, aircraft includes model airplanes.
Archaeological site any place in New Zealand, including any building or structure (or part of a building or structure) that (i) was associated with human activity that occurred before 1900 or is the site of the wreck of any vessel where the wreck occurred before 1900; and (ii) is or may be able, through investigation by archaeological methods, to provide evidence relating to the history of New Zealand.
Asset Management Plans long-term planning documents for managing Council’s infrastructural assets.
Campervan any vehicle used for camping, and includes a caravan, campervan, bus, car, house truck or other motor vehicle.
Classified (Reserve) a reserve that has been classified under section 16 of the Reserves Act 1977, according to a principal or primary purpose.
Council Porirua City Council, the Reserve Administering Body.
Cultural Heritage the stories and histories of our residents. In Porirua this includes Ngati Toa as tangata whenua, Maori, European, Pacifica and refugees or other cultural groups.
Encroachment the unauthorised occupation or use of any part of a reserve.
Event a significant occurrence, social gathering (private or public) or activity, happening at a determinable time and place.
Facilities structures or works that enable people to enjoy a range of recreational opportunities including (but not limited to) tracks and paths, bridges, car-parking areas, boat ramps, toilets, picnic areas, sports fields, courts, play equipment, signs and interpretation panels.
Filming the use of land and buildings for the purpose of commercial video and film production and includes the setting up and dismantling of film sets and associated facilities for staff.
Heritage Natural Heritage, Historic Heritage and Cultural Heritage.
Heritage Feature any feature, both natural or manmade which is included, or proposed to be included in the Porirua City District Plan 1999 Heritage Register, Part J, because of its uniqueness, rarity, significance to a particular person, event or locality, or is of architectural or townscape merit.
Historic Heritage any building or other structure, archaeological site, natural feature, wahi tapu, or object (or part/combination of these), associated with people, traditions, events or ideas, which contribute to an understanding of New Zealand’s history and cultures.
ICOMOS NZ Charter a charter adopted by the New Zealand National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (revised in 2010). The Charter sets out principles to guide the conservation of places of cultural heritage value in NZ.
Interested Party someone who has a formal (legal) interest in the reserve, such as an easement or lease. It does not refer to people with a non-statutory interest in a reserve, even if their non- statutory interest is greater than that of the general public.
Kick about informal or casual recreation and play, usually referring to a grassy area useful for multiple recreation and play purposes.
Managed Activity an activity that meets the criteria of Section 7. Managed activities may be undertaken in reserves subject to specified conditions, a booking process, and/or fee.
Maintenance of Utilities works (including repair and renewal but not upgrading) to preserve the functional efficiency of existing infrastructure, without altering the purpose, nature or intensity of use.
Mitigation to lessen the severity of adverse effects.
Natural Character the physical qualities and features created by nature, and may include such matters as:
(i) natural patterns and processes;
(ii) biophysical, ecological, geological and geomorphological aspects;
(iii) natural landforms, such as headlands, peninsulas, cliffs, dunes, wetlands and reefs; and,
(iv) places or areas that are wild or scenic.
Natural Heritage indigenous biodiversity, terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems and habitats, unmodified geological and geomorphic features, natural landforms and landscapes, and natural character.
Nurture work to protect, preserve and improve natural heritage.
Open Space land that is managed by the Council for heritage protection (including natural, cultural and historic heritage) and/or for recreation. It includes beaches and other land that may not be in a Reserves Act reserve. Also see ‘Public Open Space Zone’.
Path a well-formed durable surface (eg. Concrete or compact gravel) mostly in urban settings, that is easy walking, low gradients (although may have steps), low risk, suitable for
all ages and for most fitness levels. Many paths will cater for people with mobility difficulties and children in buggies and prams. Can generally be used in all footwear and in all weather.
Prohibited and unauthorised activities activities that fill the criteria of Section 9. Such activities are deemed inappropriate in reserves.
Public Open Space Zone a zone in the Porirua City Council District Plan.
Recreation Recreation includes organised and casual recreation, passive and active activities, and may take place outside or inside, on dry land or water. The Council provides and/or manages places to recreate, and provides some programmes to enable people to recreate.
Renewal of Utilities works to reconstruct, rehabilitate, improve or replace existing infrastructure to restore its original capacity. It also includes minor upgrading, that is the expansion of the capacity of existing infrastructure, to the extent that the resulting environmental effects are the same or similar in intensity or scale as those that existed previously. On significant heritage sites, renewal does not include disturbance of land that was not previously disturbed.
Repair restoration of something to a condition it formerly had without changing its character. In respect of utility maintenance it may involve restoration of functional efficiency rather than exact repetition of form or materials.
Reserve for simplicity, any reference to a reserve in this Plan; a) refers to land set apart for public purposes in accordance with a provision of the Reserves Act 1977, and b) is assumed to include unclassified land that is managed by the Council as reserve, unless otherwise specified.
Reserve Values the features and qualities that merit classification as a reserve, including natural, historic and cultural heritage, and public recreation, use and enjoyment values.
Road a road that is formed and maintained for vehicle use by the public.
Self-contained vehicle a self contained vehicle is designed to completely meet the ablutionary and sanitary needs of the occupants (including water for drinking and cooking) for a minimum of three days without requiring any external services or discharging any waste.
Significant that part of a reserve containing a Significant Vegetation Site, a threatened species (listed in accordance with the NZ Threat Classification System), or an area identified by Greater Wellington (Wellington Regional Council) as a Key Native Ecosystem (KNE).
Significant Ecological Sites (SES) Significant vegetation sites with significant ecological values.
Significant Natural value a value described in section 3.3 Natural Heritage.
Significant Vegetation Site a spatially bounded area of vegetation or group of trees that has ecological or amenity significance according to the “Porirua City Significant Urban Vegetation Identification” report[18].
Sport a type of organised recreation where there are standards and rules, regular competitions, and where groups are usually affiliated or aligned to a national body.
Structure includes any construction or framework, building, equipment, device or facility, made by people and fixed to the land or another structure.
Temporary (in respect of occupation), means a period not exceeding 6 consecutive days in a year.
Tournament a single meeting or sporting competition (usually in which contestants play a series of games to determine an overall winner). For the purposes of this plan, a tournament also lasts longer than 3 hours and involves more than 100 people.
Vehicle any device that is powered by any propulsion system and moves on rollers, skids, tracks, wheels, or other means; including any device referred to previously from which the propulsion system, rollers, skids, tracks, wheels, or other means of movement have
been removed. Vehicle includes motorised and non-motorised devices. Vehicle does not include(a) a pushchair or pram; (b) a child’s toy; (c) a personal mobility device used by a disabled person.
Vested Reserve a reserve vested in a territorial authority (not in the Crown).
Walking Track a form of path, less “urbanised”, may have medium or steep gradients, steps, and some muddy sections.