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Waikato District Council - Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato

Council allocates all new addresses. We use a sequential numbering system for urban areas and the RAPID numbering system for rural areas. 

Why numbering systems matter

In New Zealand, we use numbering systems to allocate property addresses. Clear and consistent numbering makes it easier to find properties.

A property address is needed for:

  • emergency services such as fire, police, and ambulance
  • utilities like power and water
  • New Zealand’s voting system
  • mail

Numbering urban properties

Urban properties are in residential, commercial and industrial zones.

For urban properties:

  • we give each driveway a street number
  • we use a sequential numbering system (for example: 1,2,3)
  • we give even numbers to properties on the right-hand side of the road
  • we give odd numbers to properties on the left-hand side of the road
  • we use alpha numerical numbering for properties on a shared driveway (for example: 25A-25E)

Numbering rural properties

We allocate rural addresses using the Rural Address Property Identification (RAPID) system. A RAPID number shows how far down the road the property is located. It is based on a calculation that starts with the number of metres between the road and the main vehicle entrance.

  1. Take the distance in metres from the start of the road to the main vehicle entrance.
  2. Divide this number by 10 and round it to a whole number.
  3. Make the number even if the property is on the right-hand side of the road. Or make it odd if it is on the left-hand side.
  4. Use alpha numerical numbering for properties on a shared driveway (for example: 1125A-1125E).

We will allocate RAPID numbers to:

  • homes
  • businesses
  • dairy sheds with their own road access

We will not allocate RAPID numbers to:

  • buildings used occasionally like shearing sheds
  • dairy sheds that share road access with a dwelling (we use the dwelling’s number)

Numbering retirement villages

Retirement villages have additional buildings of interest such as halls, pools and gyms. To make all buildings and homes within the village easy to find, we use specific guidelines to allocate addresses.

How we allocate property numbers

Council works with Land Information New Zealand Toituu Te Whenua (LINZ) to assign property numbers.

Note: A driveway that provides access to six or more properties must first be named as a private road. Find out more about naming roads and streets.

Council will allocate property numbers for subdivisions as part of the resource consent post approval process.

Council can begin allocating property numbers once these conditions are met:

  • subdivision consent has been granted
  • the LT Plan (Survey Plan) has been approved in LandOnline
  • for rural properties, driveway locations have been identified

The number allocation process

  1. Council allocates a number
    Council will follow the guidelines set out by LINZ to allocate an address to each new property.
  2. LINZ pre-approves the number
    Council will send the new address allocation to LINZ for pre-approval.
  3. Council notifies all parties
    Once your subdivision fees are paid and LINZ has pre-approved the number, Council will email the developer or property owner the provisional address. Council will also notify NZ Post, CoreLogic and Tuatahi Fibre to update their records.
  4. LINZ confirms the new address
    Once LINZ has issued a Record of Title for the property, they will confirm and register the new address.

If you want to add a property number to an existing property, email info@waidc.govt.nz.

Remember to include:

  • details to help us identify the property (for example: property number, legal description or current address)
  • a clear description of what you want (for example: to change an address or to add a new address)
  • a site plan showing the new dwelling or vehicle entranceway, or any existing RAPID numbers

Tip: Put ‘property numbers’ in the subject line of your email.

The number allocation process

On request, Council will allocate property numbers after new occupancies (such as minor dwellings, units or premises, or vehicle entranceways) are added to an existing property.

  1. Council allocates an additional number
    Council will follow the guidelines set out by LINZ to allocate an additional address to the property.
  2. LINZ confirms the number
    Council will send the new address allocation to LINZ for approval. LINZ will confirm and register the number.
  3. Council notifies all parties
    Once registered by LINZ, Council will email the developer or property owner confirming the additional address. Council will also notify NZ Post, CoreLogic and Tuatahi Fibre to update their records. 

After a property is numbered

Once your property number is confirmed and registered, you can use the address and display your number plate.

Displaying a rural property number

Place your RAPID number plate on the gate post at your property entrance. If possible, place it on the side of the gate that emergency services will approach from. It must be clearly visible and not hidden by vegetation.

Where to order a RAPID number plate

RAPID number plates need to be clearly visible at night. We recommend buying durable plates with reflective red numbers from these suppliers. Alternative plates are acceptable, but they must be bold, clear and visible at night.

When to use extra signage

Some dwellings are difficult to locate on rural properties due to forking farm tracks and long distances. If it is not immediately clear where the dwelling is from the gate, you need to place extra signage to direct emergency services to the dwellings. 

Related standards and guidelines

Council assigns property numbers based on the standards and guidelines set out by Land Information New Zealand Toituu Te Whenua (LINZ).

Related legislation

Last updated 19 May 2026, 04:34 pm

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