20 December 2011
Party Tricks for Peaceful Celebrations: Avoid Noise Complaints
With the party season in full swing, noise control officers are gearing up for a peak in noise complaints that come from
the many Christmas and New Year celebrations that will be held over the coming weeks.
ADT Armourguard General Manager, Ian Anderson, said his company provides noise control services to 15 councils around
the country.
“Over the summer holiday period many people like to throw Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties. However, there are just
as many people that look forward to a quiet peaceful break and many others who will still be working.
Ian said people who are planning to throw a festive party can adopt some simple measures to avoid disgruntled neighbours
and protect their celebrations from noise complaints.
Top Noise Control Tips for Party Hosts:
Nobody wants to dampen the festive mood or start the New Year off with a noise control notice. The best way to avoid
noise complaints is to be aware of what the rules are and to adopt some simple measures. The following tips can help
steer party organisers away from noise complaints ensuring a happy holiday season for all.
• Be considerate towards your neighbours. Maintain a reasonably moderate level of music and noise, and reduce
volume levels after midnight.
• Inform your neighbours about your party or even invite them to it! They are less likely to complain if they are
prepared for the event or are attending.
• Establish a set end time for the party and make sure everyone is aware of it.
• Don’t allow guests to stand around in groups outside the venue in residential areas as groups talking often
become very loud.
• As it gets later in the evening shut doors and windows and encourage people to move indoors to minimise noise
from escaping.
• Consider hiring a professional security officer to provide assistance in dealing with any disruptive behaviour
that may contribute to noise levels.
• Keep an eye on your guests and how much they are drinking. Be prepared to take action if things get out of
control.
• Wind-up the party by gradually turning down the music.
• At the end of the night, encourage guests to go home quietly and not linger outside the venue or in surrounding
streets.
Know The Rules:
The Resource Management Act 1991 is the main control over noise in New Zealand.
Under The Resource Management Act 1991, when a noise control officer attends to a complaint they must decide whether the
noise is excessive.
Excessive noise is defined as 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.
When investigating a complaint, if the attending noise control officer believes the noise is excessive they will issue a
direction notice to the person responsible for the source of the noise to reduce the noise to a reasonable level. This
may be done verbally or in writing.
This direction must be enforced in most cases for 72 hours. If this is breached and excessive noise continues, a noise
control officer accompanied by a Police Officer may take any steps necessary to stop the noise. This usually includes
but is not limited to: seizing the source of the noise e.g. a stereo, removing parts from a noise source or locking up
the noise source so it can’t be used.
Breaching a noise direction can lead to an instant infringement notice fine of $500 or a fine of up to $10,000 after
prosecution.
ENDS