Battlelines drawn over Te Arai point beach | Auckland News | Local News in Auckland

Forest-lined white sand dunes and rolling surf, Te Arai Beach is 110km - and a million miles - from Auckland Council's high-rise offices in Queen St. But there's a cloud on the horizon of the apparently idyllic, northern tip of the council's empire.

Te Arai Coastal Lands wants a private plan change to add a new clause to a rule in the Rodney section of the District Plan. This would permit 44 residential sections and two larger titles in return for giving the council 172ha for a public reserve and protecting 5.66ha of wetland.

The company is a joint venture of Te Uri o Hau hapu of Ngati Whatua and NZ Land Trust, a Queenstown-based development firm. Te Uri o Hau bought the land with money from its Treaty settlement and sold 75 per cent of it to NZ Land Trust for $21.8 million in 2006.

The proposal for a new coastal community just south of popular Mangawhai has been around for several years (see box) and opponents are fighting it hard.

Te Arai Beach Preservation Society president Mark Walker says there are two reasons development should be prevented.

"We have 16 endangered species on that beach, including New Zealand's rarest bird, the fairy tern, and if that's not enough reason I don't know what is," he says.

"The other is that Auckland has plenty of houses and hotels and golf courses. What we need are remote areas where people can go and chill out in nature. Te Arai is one of the last places you can do that."

He became involved in 2005 after being invited to an open day at the property. "At that stage, the stated aim was about 1500 houses. I was appalled and we got together with a few neighbours and found out everyone was on board. About 100 locals founded the Te Arai Beach Preservation Society at that first meeting."

He says the property backs on to Mangawhai's wildlife reserve, nesting ground for the critically endangered tern. "The terns also take their young to the canal within the proposed development area. The developers have said they will set lots back from the area, but the tern is very sensitive to human disturbance. We think if it goes ahead we will lose the fairy tern."

Last time the joint venture applied for a plan change almost 100 per cent of submissions opposed it.

"Independent commissioners turned it down, stating it was the wrong place for a development and the existing conservation measures should be extended," says Mr Walker.

Peter Wilson is the commercial manager of Renaissance Group, the commercial arm of Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust. He told The Aucklander the hapu did not want to make any comment at this stage.

The joint venture stated residential sections would be in pine forests, away from the beach, and development would be in keeping with the area's rural nature.

Earlier this year, the preservation society, supported by a 3000-signature petition, called on the council to buy the joint venture's 616ha holding. The council already administers Te Arai Pt Reserve on the Pakiri side of the forest.

The council will accept submissions on the proposal until December 19.

WHERE IS IT?
Te Arai Pt lies at the northern end of Pakiri Beach, interrupting the white sand as it marches towards Mangawhai. Fishermen love surfcasting; the beach is a mecca for surfers. Campervans are permitted overnight. Inland are three freshwater lakes: Slipper, Spectacle and Tomarata. The only one with road access, Tomarata has a concrete boat ramp, barbecues and toilets and is popular with boaties, water skiers, kayakers and swimmers. Fishing by permit.

See www.TeArai.org

TIMELINE
2005 Application for plan change for a coastal community including 1400 lots, golf course and accomodation lodged with Rodney District Council.
2005-08 Proposal cut to 850, then 180 lots.
2009 Application for 180 lots turned down by commissioners.
2010 Environment Court hearing sees provision for a 46-lot development incorporated in the Rodney District Plan.
October 2011 Auckland Council regional development committee decides not to accept vested land or buy any land until plan change application settled.

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