Paper Road Access Bylaw 2025
What was the outcome?
At Deliberations on 24 September, the Strategy Working Committee was presented three recommendations which took into account the views shared by residents, stakeholders, and affected groups:
- Option 1: Amend the Proposed Bylaw to allow pedestrian, non-motorised wheeled devices, and quad bike and side by side access by permit.
- Option 2: Retain the status quo and continue monitoring.
- Option 3: Do not proceed with the Bylaw and engage with the hapu and local community to develop solutions that:
– Identify where the unformed legal road (paper road) is by agreeing to survey the area
– Discuss with Heritage NZ the actions needed for the community to fence the site
– Develop information boards at the entrance to the area that clearly identify the conditions under which access is permitted
– Discuss options for continuing access if there are areas of the unformed road that are no longer able to be used
Following robust deliberations, the committee resolved to:
- Amend the proposed Cape Palliser Paper Road Bylaw to allow for pedestrians, bicycles and e-bikes for a 24-month period only, with the exception of motorised vehicles for landowners, the Department of Conservation and Council invitees.
- Immediately survey and define the exact route of the Unformed Legal Road.
- Install signage to identify the exact route of the Unformed Legal Road.
- Invite a stakeholder access group comprised of groups such as Ngāti Hinewaka, Ngawi community/Ratepayers association, Council, Rural and Coastal Advisory Group, Department of Conservation, Walking Access Commission, Heritage NZ and the National 4-Wheel Drive Association to consider options for future access and use of the Unformed Legal Road.
The Bylaw was approved at the 8 October Council meeting. The Bylaw will come into effect on 1 December 2025 for a period of 24 months. The Bylaw will be available on Council website soon.
Find the media release here
What's happening?
We are proposing to place a bylaw on the remaining part of the paper road at the end of Cape Palliser Road to restrict access by pedestrians (both on foot and bicycle), motorcycles and motor vehicles other than the landowners or other government agency.
We prepare bylaws for our community when we think it’s necessary to:
protect the public from nuisance and damage to landscape and significant areas;
maintain, promote and protect public health and safety, or
minimise the potential for offensive behaviour in public places.
The key outcomes of the Paper Road Access Bylaw 2025 include:
Establishing clear permission: the bylaw will limit and regulate public access to the paper road to ensure safety and prevent access to the neighbouring private property.
Protection of the environment: the bylaw will reduce erosion, vegetation damage, and habitat disruption by controlling vehicle, cycle and foot traffic in sensitive areas located on the private land and paper road.
Provision of enforcement mechanisms: this will include signage and penalties for non-compliance for the bylaw.
Support to affected landowners: the bylaw recognises that paper roads can adversely impact nearby property owners—through issues like trespassing, biosecurity risks, or disrupted land use. The bylaw includes measures to support and protect these landowners through enforcement measures.
Background
Beyond the Cape Palliser Lighthouse lies an unformed paper road. This stretch of coastline crosses both privately owned Māori land and Crown land managed by the Department of Conservation.
While the unformed paper road passes through private land and Crown land, and leads to a dead end, it continues to be accessed by members of the public.
This area has been subjected to vandalism and the destruction of native flora and fauna through the use of 4WD trucks and quad bike owners. The impacts (both historic and potential) of this behavior include:
Environmental damage: Off-road vehicles have caused serious harm to the land, including deep ruts and erosion.
Fire risk: Campfires from illegal camping have led to major fires, including one in 1990 that destroyed large areas of native bush.
Risk to cultural protection: The area includes wāhi tapu (sacred sites), ancestral burial grounds, and historic pā sites.
Ecological sensitivity: The land is under a QEII covenant and part of a Heritage NZ Historic Area.
Private landowners’ rights: Ongoing public access has disrupted the quiet enjoyment of private land, a right all landowners are entitled to. Unauthorised access has led to trespassing, property damage, and disrespect of culturally significant areas.
Coastal erosion: Ongoing sea erosion has already claimed part of the paper road and surrounding coastal areas, making access unsafe and unsustainable in some locations.
Council has engaged with local hapū, Ngāti Hinewaka and have agreed the continued vandalism, disrespect to the land and its owners and the poor social behaviours displayed are not acceptable. Please see appendix three for images of the damage.
Have your say
Share your feedback before 19 August 2025.
We want to hear from you about what you think about the Paper Road Access Bylaw 2025, including any suggested amendments or considerations you might have.
How to provide your feedback
Online (preferred)
Visit haveyoursay.swdc.govt.nz/paper-road-access-bylaw and complete the online survey.
Paper form
Fill in the paper form available at the back of the consultation document, or collect one from any South Wairarapa library
The paper forms can be left at any library, emailed to the below email address, or posted to
PO BOX 6, Martinborough 5741, addressed to ‘Paper Road Bylaw'
Email
haveyoursay@swdc.govt.nz subject line ‘Paper Road Bylaw’
Present
You can present your feedback verbally at the hearings on 3 September, with or without making a written submission first. You can do this in person or via a live or recorded statement. Let us know in your feedback form if you wish to do a verbal presentation in person or online.
