House comes then goes, say amazed locals

A house is understood to have been moved on to this property in Tarbet St, Flaxmere, last week, without resource consent, and was subsequently removed in a manner residents described as 'miraculous'. Photo / Paul Taylor

Claims a property developer moved a house on to a Flaxmere section without resource consent last week, before removing it in a "miraculous" fashion, may be a third strike against him.

Relocate Homes NZ owner Shannon Tawhiti sparked an outcry from residents in Totara St, Mahora, last week after he relocated three houses on to a 1065sq m section without the required consent. Having three houses on the property meant it did not comply with housing density rules in the Hastings District Council's district plan.

The council also fined his company $300 in October after he moved an ex-state house on to a Joll Rd, Havelock North, section before a consent was granted.

Now it has been alleged the developer moved a house on to a property in Tarbet St, Flaxmere, without consent.

A former contractor of Relocate Homes NZ, who did not wish to be named, said Mr Tawhiti relocated the house and was "gunning to get rid of it" at the weekend.

A council spokesman said yesterday it was investigating the house's relocation and initial inquiries indicated consent had not been obtained.

A local said she had witnessed part of the house being put on the property with a crane on Saturday evening.

She was surprised to notice the house had vanished yesterday. "It's miraculous. Even the piles have gone. It was a huge house and there's no evidence it was there."

A neighbour said the house had been moved on to the property without warning.

"We just saw a house coming down the road and moved our cars."

A man had since visited him, asking whether he had noticed any council workers in the street.

"I thought the line of questioning was a bit strange."

Mr Tawhiti did not respond to requests for comment from Hawke's Bay Today yesterday.

Council acting chief executive John O'Shaughnessy said staff were collating information on all building projects related to Mr Tawhiti.

"More resource has been allocated to this investigation in order to progress it as quickly as possible."