RAPID Numbers

RAPID is Rural Address Property Identification.  It gives every rural property with a house an address.  RAPID is useful for emergency services, NZ Post, Telecom, courier companies and power authorities.  Most rural areas in New Zealand now have RAPID numbers.

How have the RAPID numbers been assigned

RAPID numbers start at the end of the road closest to Gisborne city. Your RAPID number is based on the distance your property is along the road.  The distance is measured in metres from the start of the road to the centre of the driveway for the house.

The final measurement is divided by 10, then rounded to a whole number. Numbers on the right side of the road are even; those on the left are odd.  For example:

• a property located 825 meters from the start of the road would be numbered 82 if on the right side of the road or 83 if on the left side of the road.
• If there is more than one dwelling off a driveway then a letter e.g. A, B, or C is added.  The first house along will be A, the second B, etc. 
• If you have a shared driveway, you can request an additional plate to put on the house. The primary plate must remain at the entrance to the property.

How to apply for a RAPID number 

If you're building a new house, you can get a RAPID number when you apply for building consent. There is a tick box on the consent application form.

Or you can print the form and fill it in.  Return it to us with the fee.  

Street Address Application Form

What will your address be

NZ Post has confirmed that the RAPID number can be added to the usual RD address.  For example:

•  Joe Bloggs, 963 Wharekopae Road, RD3, Gisborne
  • no need for any prefix like "Rapid"

All mail will continue to reach you. If you would like to have your address amended this may be done in the usual way.

If you don't like the number and want to change it  

It's not possible to change the number on request, as it reflects the distance along the road and every 1 represents 10 metres.

We cannot change the number without compromising the integrity of the numbering system. This system is a service that council is providing, it's not compulsory. 

You live on a state highway

State highway roads in the Gisborne district have been given names eg. Wharerata Rd, Matawai Rd, Whangara Rd etc. The numbering works the same way. 

Can your stockyard or packing shed have a RAPID number

Yes.  The RAPID numbering project has been to get all existing rural houses in our district numbered.  This is for ease and speed in civil defence and emergency situations.  You can print the form above, and for a small fee, order a plate and put it up yourself. 

What do they look like?

The plates are blue with reflective white numbers to make them easy to see at night.  Your RAPID plate will be put in a prominent place close to your driveway, on a letterbox, gatepost or fence. The plate will face toward the road.

How is the RAPID number recorded

All RAPID numbers are recorded in council's GIS (Geographic Information System) and corporate computer system. It's also used as the property files in our records system, all correspondence relating to the address is kept together.

Landonline - Land Information New Zealand's national property database has the information. Emergency services then have access to this information to quickly find a property in a rural area.