Mangawhai costal development rejected

A housing development proposed at Te Arai Point, near Mangawhai, has been rejected by the Rodney District Council.

The council adopted the recommendation of an independent commissioner to decline the development.

The commissioner's report said a plan change would mean the unique natural environment would be lost to future generations.

The decision has been welcomed by the Environmental Defence Society.

The society's chairman Gary Taylor said the development threatened New Zealand's rarest bird, the New Zealand fairy tern.

"There are only 36 birds left and just 10 breeding pairs. The commissioners placed weight on the need to protect their habitat at the north end of the beach. That is a sound judgement and they could hardly have done otherwise," Mr Taylor said.

He said many locals had opposed the development which included 180 dwellings.

"It is surrounded by reserve land to the north and south. The developers sought approval for a private plan change to rezone the land for development," Mr Taylor said.

The developer, Te Uri O Hau, has 30 working days to file an appeal to the Environment Court or to abandon the proposal.

The land was bought by Te Uri O Hau with money from a Treaty of Waitangi settlement in 2000.

Te Uri O Hau were contacted for comment but have so far not returned phone calls.

The then chief executive of Te Uri O Hau, Esther Gray told the commissioners that the land was bought from the Crown with the "express understanding that the land was intended to be enhanced and developed by Te Uri O Hau in order to provide for the on-going well-being of the Te Uri O Hau into the future".

- NZ HERALD STAFF