Upper Selwyn Huts

Proposed terms and conditions released for new Deed of Licence

Updated May 21 2026

The Council is proposing new Terms and Conditions for the Upper Selwyn Huts Deed of Licence as part of the transition to new licences from July 2026. The proposed licences would be granted for a 30‑year term, with a formal review at year 20 and regular environmental assessments. This reflects the Council decisions made in response to community feedback and our responsibilities as manager of Crown‑owned reserve land.

We have released the updated draft Terms and Conditions here, along with a cover document outlining key themes and proposed draft changes:

• Updated Deed of Licence - tracked changes
• Updated Deed of Licence - no markup

In developing the terms we considered:

• feedback received through engagement in 2024 and 2025
• decisions already made by the Council
• the Council’s legal responsibilities as manager of Crown‑owned reserve land
• conditions that are practical, fair, and enforceable

As a result, the proposed terms and conditions do not include:

• any building inspections beyond what the Building Act provisions
• any bond
• a code of conduct within it
• restrictions on licence transfers
• additional Council termination rights (proposed in the previous consultation)

We are also proposing one standard set of terms and conditions that would apply to all Upper Selwyn Huts licence holders.  This approach recognises that while huts may be used differently all licence holders, residents and their visitors occupy the same reserve land, and share the same legal, environmental and safety obligations. Having consistent conditions helps ensure fairness, clarity about expectations, and transparent management of the reserve.

View the proposed terms and conditions

The decision processes

There are two separate but related decision processes underway:

1. Licence fees and a proposed waste management targeted rate
   • These are being consulted on through the Draft Annual Plan 2026–27 as they relate to service delivery and fees and charges.
   • Feedback on fees and the targeted rate must be made through a formal Annual Plan submission.
   • These will be considered as part of the Annual Plan 2026-27 deliberations with a final decision determined through the adoption of the final plan at the decision meeting 24 June 2026.
2. Terms and Conditions of the Deed of Licence
   • These will be considered for adoption by Councillors at the Council meeting on 24 June 2026. Because these relate to contract management, they are not something that can be considered in an Annual Plan.
   • Feedback on the draft terms can be provided directly to us by emailing huts@selwyn.govt.nz by 5pm Friday 15 May 2026.

How to provide feedback or ask questions

Email questions or feedback on the proposed terms and conditions to huts@selwyn.govt.nz.

What happens next

• Friday 15 May 2026: Feedback received on the Terms will be considered by Council staff and included in the Council report for the decision meeting.
• Thursday 4 June 2026: Updated draft Terms and Conditions will be sent to all licence holders.
• Community Meeting, Sunday June 14: 1pm – 2pm Springston South Soldiers Memorial Hall, 433 Days Road, Springston 7674. Interim Chief Executive Steve Gibling will be present and able to answer questions, and Councillors have been invited to support.
• By 11.59pm Monday 15 June 2026: Any further feedback on the updated draft can be emailed to huts@selwyn.govt.nz.
• Wednesday 17 June 2026 (approx.): Council agenda papers will be publicly available, covering both the proposed Terms and Conditions and the Annual Plan decision.
• Wednesday 24 June 2026: Council will make its final decisions on the Terms and Conditions and the Annual Plan 2026/27.

While current licences will reach their expiry date during the transfer process, they remain in force, and the existing terms and conditions will continue to apply while the new licences are being prepared.

In May, Selwyn Water Ltd will also publicly consult on the proposed Water Services Strategy, which will outline proposed fees and charges across the district for water supply, and waste water services.

Council confirms 30-year licence for Upper Selwyn Huts

Update September 2025

Selwyn District Council has confirmed a new 30-year licence term for licence holders at Upper Selwyn Huts, with a formal review scheduled at year 20 to consider future renewal. This decision provides residents with long-term certainty while ensuring the settlement is managed responsibly and sustainably.

Under the new licence arrangement:

• Licence holders will be granted a 30-year licence term, with a formal review at year 20. This review will include consultation with Upper Selwyn Huts’ licence holders to consider whether the licence should be extended at the end of the 30-year term.
• Environmental assessments will be undertaken every 10 years and shared publicly, to keep residents informed on any changes in the area.
• Building inspections will not be included as a licence condition. The Council will continue to carry out inspections in line with its role as a territorial authority, such as when complaints or safety concerns arise.
• No bond will be introduced, and no environmental triggers will automatically end a licence term.

A final deed of licence will be prepared following consultation on the 2026/27 Annual Plan, which will also confirm the updated licence fee.

What was proposed

Background

Engagement with Upper Selwyn Huts’ licence holders began in early 2024 and continued through targeted activities between August and December 2024. This activity including facilitated meetings and drop-in sessions to understand licence holders’ views and concerns about licensing arrangements.

Feedback from this engagement informed Councillor workshops and shaped the formal consultation for a future Deed of Licence (DOL).

Consultation

The consultation was about informing a new agreement that provides clarity and certainty for licence holders and residents, while also ensuring environmental risks are responsibly managed and obligations are fair, practical, and transparent.

We invited the public to give feedback on four terms proposed for inclusion in the new DOL, including:

1. The length of future licence terms
2. Whether serious environmental events should be grounds for a licence ending early
3. Whether a bond should be required to support land restoration at the end of a licence term
4. How the Council should undertake building condition inspections

You can view the consultation page here.

Consultation ran from 9am Monday 16 June to 5pm Monday 21 July 2025.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback.

Submissions, hearing and deliberation

Submissions received

We accepted submissions between 16 June and 21 July 2025. Submissions have now closed and are available to read below.

• Submissions 1-100
• Submissions 101-211

Hearing

The hearing will take place at 9am on Thursday 7 August 2025 at the Lincoln Event Centre. The hearing agenda and the submissions being presented are available to view below:

• Upper Selwyn Huts Hearing Agenda - 7 August 2025
• Upper Selwyn Huts Hearing Agenda Supporting Document - Submitter #128

Deliberation

The Council deliberation will be held at 10am on Thursday 21 August 2025, also at the Lincoln Event Centre. The deliberation agenda can be viewed below.

• Upper Selwyn Huts Deliberation Agenda - 21 August 2025

Both the hearing and deliberation will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

Council Decision Meeting

The Council will meet on Wednesday 17 September to make a final decision on the terms of a future Deed of Licence for Upper Selwyn Huts. The meeting will start at 10am with a public-excluded session first. The public session will begin at approximately 11am, starting with the Upper Selwyn Huts decision. Seating in the Council Chamber is limited, so we encourage people to join online on our YouTube channel. The meeting agenda is available to read below.

• Council Meeting Agenda 17 September 2025

General information

The Upper Selwyn Huts are located at the Springston South Reserve on land owned by the Crown and managed by Selwyn District Council.

Historically, hut owners have owned their hut and held a Deed of Licence to lease the land. The Council also levies a licence fee.

The Springston South Reserve faces a number of challenges for long-term occupation due to the growing number of severe storms in the area and rising groundwater levels. The increasing difficulty of opening Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere to the sea in the future also increases these risks.

Background

On 8 May 2019, the Selwyn District Council unanimously determined that the Upper Selwyn Hut licences and subsequent renewals would only be available for a finite period.

At its 13 March 2024 meeting, Selwyn District Council also decided that the Upper Selwyn Huts’ Deeds of Licence will not continue past 30 June 2039, meaning there will be no residence allowed at the site after this date.

At the 13 March 2024 meeting the Council decided:

• A new Deed of Licence will be issued for a period of 5 years from 30 June 2024. There will be a conditional opportunity to renew that licence for 2 further periods of 5 years. No occupancy will be permitted after 30 June 2039.
• An inspection programme for Upper Selwyn Huts and associated lots would need to be undertaken in relation to relevant legislation and Council policy. This is discussed further below.
• A remediation bond will be introduced as part of the licence.
• Transfers of a Deed of Licence after 30 June 2034 will be restricted to identified family members or significant persons (to be determined) of the licensee.

The Council has also been working with Environment Canterbury and hut owners on options for a new wastewater system for the Huts and agreed to connect the Upper Selwyn Huts to a new wastewater pipeline running from Ellesmere to the Pines Wastewater Treatment Plant.

At the 13 March meeting the Council also agreed to reduce the amount that the Upper Selwyn Huts community would be required to fund this pipeline from 100% to 30%.

You can read the report [PDF, 9071 KB] that was presented to the Council and view the Council meeting.
13 March 2024 Meeting Minutes [PDF, 340 KB]

Update July 2024

Feedback was sought from licence holders, feedback to date did not support Council’s decision and a report was taken to Council in July.

Additional Background

There are three hut communities on the shores of Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere where hut owners have a Deed of Licence to occupy the land. These include the Greenpark Huts (administered by Ngāi Tahu), Lower Selwyn Huts (administered by the Department of Conservation (DoC)), and the Upper Selwyn Huts (managed by Selwyn District Council).

On 8 May 2019​, the Selwyn District Council unanimously determined that the Upper Selwyn Hut licences and subsequent renewals would only be available for a finite period on a short term renewal basis. Since 2020, the Deeds of Licence for the Upper Selwyn Huts and the resource consent for the wastewater system at the huts have been extended annually for one year at a time.

To inform and support Upper Selwyn Hut owners, information was presented to them at a public meeting on 28 February 2024. Residents were invited to discuss the proposals and options with the mayor, the Council’s chief executive and senior Council staff.

View the presentation 28 February 2024 community meeting [PPTX, 1200 KB]

Drop-in sessions and a further public meeting were held with residents on 22 and 23 April 2024 for the Council to listen and take feedback on the draft Deed of Licence.

View the presentation 23 April 2024 meeting [PPTX, 9435 KB].

Next steps

The Council’s priority is to ensure that hut owners have certainty about their situation beyond 1 July 2025.

To support this, Council will undertake an engagement process with community members in order to develop the approach for a public consultation on a new Deed of Licence for Upper Selwyn Huts' Licence Holders.

Engagement Activity Timeline *indicative timeline that is subject to change

How to get in touch

Huts residents with further questions can email huts@selwyn.govt.nz or call us on 0800 SELWYN (785 996)

Past correspondence