01
Assess the exposure on site
Ridges, gullies and open paddocks can sit side by side. Record shelter, terrain and orientation so wind loads are assessed for the actual shed position.
POLE SHED DESIGN · TARARUA
Pole shed plans & engineering for Tararua builders.
Pole shed plans, engineering and trusses/rafters for LBP builders delivering dairy, sheep and beef farm sheds around Dannevirke, Pahiatua, Woodville and Eketāhuna, just up the road from our Masterton base.
Free to join. You only pay when you order. Preliminary pack from $99 + GST. Detailed plans with PS1 from $999 + GST. Turnaround 2–4 days. Consent-level plans, IL2 and customisation cost extra. We'll confirm the price before you commit.
CoverageDannevirke · Pahiatua · Woodville · Eketāhuna · NorsewoodLocal contextTararua District CouncilSite focusDairy, sheep and beef country
01 DESIGN GROUNDED IN THE SITE
TARARUA PROJECTS
Start with the details that change the design.
Tararua District runs north from Eketāhuna through Pahiatua and Woodville to Dannevirke and Norsewood, along the eastern side of the Tararua and Ruahine ranges. Tararua pole sheds are mostly working farm buildings, such as calf sheds, feed and fertiliser storage, implement sheds and hay barns. The wind farms near Woodville are a reminder that exposure can change sharply from one ridge or valley to the next.
02
Design for the farm system
Set bay widths, clear heights, feed-out and loading access, and stock or machinery movement around how the dairy or drystock operation runs.
03
Check more than the Building Code
Tararua District Council checks applications against the District Plan, vehicle access and earthworks as well as the Building Code, so capture those site details up front.
02 FROM BRIEF TO DOCUMENTS
ONE CONNECTED WORKFLOW
Resolve the project before the paperwork multiplies.
ShedSpecs keeps the decisions that shape the shed connected, from the builder brief through to plans, engineering and trusses/rafters.
- 01
Capture the project
Record the site, intended use, building dimensions and constraints that matter to the job.
- 02
Shape the shed
Develop the roof, bays, openings, cladding and internal arrangement in a guided visual workflow.
- 03
Check the pathway
Confirm the local authority, planning context and whether the work needs consent or may qualify for an exemption.
- 04
Move into detail
Submit a resolved brief for detailed plans and, where selected, professional engineering, a PS1, and the trusses or rafters.
03 LOCAL CONSENT CONTEXT
CHECK THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS
One region does not mean one consent pathway.
Tararua District Council prefers building consent applications to be lodged online and charges an additional fee for hard-copy applications. Its current fees schedule includes a category for new farm buildings and pole sheds. Applications are checked against the Building Act, council bylaws and the District Plan, and the 20 working-day clock stops while further information is requested.
Tararua applying for building consentTararua building fees and chargesNational pole shed exemption guidance
Council and MBIE links are provided as starting points only. Requirements can change, and every project should be checked against its current site, use and authority.
WHAT THE WORKFLOW CONNECTS
A better-resolved brief. A clearer path to detail.
- Guided visual project setup
- Building layout and use decisions
- Secure project and document access
- Detailed drawing pathway
- Structural engineering option
- PS1 service option
- Trusses and rafters
04 COMMON QUESTIONS
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Useful answers for Tararua shed projects.
Does every pole shed need a building consent?
No. Some single-storey pole sheds and hay barns in rural zones may qualify for a Schedule 1 exemption when all statutory conditions are met. The site, size, use, span, height, setbacks and wind conditions matter, so the builder and owner should confirm the position for the specific project before work begins.
Who can use the ShedSpecs Pole Portal, and what does it cost?
The Pole Portal is free for Licensed Building Practitioners to join. You only pay when you order. A preliminary pack — preliminary plans and a full material list — is from $99 + GST, and you can skip it and go straight to detailed plans. Detailed plans with a PS1 are from $999 + GST, paid as a deposit and balance. Turnaround is 2–4 days. Consent-level plans, IL2 (Importance Level 2) plans, and customisation of a design cost extra. We'll confirm the price before you commit. You will need your LBP number to create your account.
Do you supply trusses and rafters?
Yes. Along with the plans and engineering, ShedSpecs supplies the trusses and rafters for the shed.
Can ShedSpecs help with structural engineering and a PS1?
ShedSpecs manages the design workflow and document delivery. Structural engineering and Producer Statement PS1 services are provided by Infinity Consulting Engineers Limited as a separate professional service.
Is Tararua part of Wairarapa?
No. Tararua District is in the Manawatū-Whanganui region and is administered by Tararua District Council, with its main office in Dannevirke. Eketāhuna and Pahiatua are a short drive north of Masterton, which is why we work there often.
Can the design suit dairy and drystock farm sheds?
Yes. The brief records the shed's use, bay layout, clear heights, openings and access so calf sheds, feed storage and implement sheds are designed around the way the farm works.
Can ShedSpecs support projects outside Tararua?
Yes. We work most often with councils across Wairarapa, Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Kāpiti, Manawatū, Horowhenua, Rangitīkei and Tararua, but our documentation is prepared around the New Zealand Building Code and relevant New Zealand Standards, so we can support LBP builders nationwide. Site conditions, district-plan rules and council information requirements vary, so projects outside the areas we work in most often may need additional investigation, documentation or professional input.
FOR PROPERTY OWNERS
Property owner? Ask your builder to use ShedSpecs.
Planning a pole shed on your property in Tararua? You're welcome here. The Pole Portal is used by Licensed Building Practitioners, so the project itself is set up through your builder. Share ShedSpecs with them and they can take it from there.
Have a question first? Our enquiry form is open to anyone, property owners included.
Send us an enquiryFOR LICENSED BUILDING PRACTITIONERS
Bring the site. Bring the brief.
We'll help connect the detail.
Free to join and design. Preliminary pack from $99 + GST, or detailed plans with PS1 from $999 + GST. You can skip the preliminary pack. Turnaround is 2–4 days. Consent-level plans, IL2 and customisation cost extra. We'll confirm the price before you commit. Have your LBP number handy.