Over the next few months, we’ll be carrying out an Ambient Noise Survey across urban areas of Upper Hutt, including Silverstream, Māoribank, Trentham, Ebdentown, Birchville, Wallaceville and Riverstone Terraces.

An Ambient Noise Survey simply measures everyday environmental noise using specialised equipment (like the device pictured below) over a set period of time. This helps us understand what “normal” noise levels look like in these areas.

Noise standards were last reviewed in 2004, yep, the same year Facebook first launched… so it’s definitely time for an update.

The information we gather will help establish current baseline noise levels and support the development of updated noise standards as part of the new resource management system being introduced by central government.

We’re not investigating specific issues or checking compliance, this is all about refreshing our data. So if you spot one of our noise experts out and about with a handheld measurement device or one of the below in your neighbor’s backyard (we got their permission), there’s no need to worry!

Source: Upper Hutt City Council

11/02/26