RAPID Numbers Crucial to Emergency Response

Property owners in the Hurunui District are being urged to clearly display their Rural Address Property Identification System (RAPID) number at their property entrance, so that emergency services can easily identify and locate rural properties.

RAPID is a standard numbering system for rural properties based on the distance to a property entrance from a clearly defined reference point, usually the beginning of the road on which it is located. The numbers are allocated to properties by measuring the distance from the beginning of the road to the centre of the entrance to the property.

For most addresses this will be the number for the main dwelling on site. However, if there is more than one dwelling down a driveway or an outbuilding that is regularly used as a workplace then each should have its own RAPID number assigned.

Hurunui District Council’s Regulatory Services Manager, Judith Batchelor, says a property’s RAPID number needs to be displayed in a way that is easily visible as it is a critical piece of information for an effective emergency response.

“Address numbering of rural properties is not as simple as in metro areas. The RAPID number assigned to a property allows emergency services to quickly locate a rural property that is in need of an immediate response. It is also important to note that the numbers are independent of Rural Delivery (RD) numbers, which are assigned by New Zealand Post and are used for postal purposes only.”

Due to this crucial use of the numbers, the Hurunui District Council is reminding property owners that they should clearly display their correct RAPID number at their property entrance. If anyone is unsure of their property’s RAPID number, they should contact the Duty Planner at the council 03 314 8816.

ENDS

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