Leigh Hopper, left, with Patuharakeke kaumatua Paraire Pirihi, Pera Mackie and kuia Heidi Pirihi at the blessing ceremony.
Leigh Hopper, left, with Patuharakeke kaumatua Paraire Pirihi, Pera Mackie and kuia Heidi Pirihi at the blessing ceremony.
One of Whangārei's most successful waterside residential developments has opened its latest expansion in grand style.
On Saturday, about 200 people lined the banks at the launch of the waterway carved out by Hopper Developments in stage five of the Marsden Cove canal suburb.
Developer Leigh Hopper addresses the crowd at Marsden Cove, with the Hopper's boat The Boardroom in the new canal.
A big point of difference from other marina-canal developments, such as at Whitianga and Pauanui on the Coromandel Peninsula, is The Anchorage Retirement Village. With the canal finished, it now commands a waterfront position.
The Anchorage already has 20 completed, occupied units and construction is well underway on a planned 200 more of them. It will eventually include an attached full-care facility.
More land is also now ready for residential growth in the latest stage of the development whose first stage opened in 2005.
Saturday's guests of honour, among them Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai and councillor Phil Halse, joined managing director Leigh Hopper aboard the company's boat, The Boardroom.
Mayor Sheryl Mai with Leigh Hopper, centre, and Phil Halse.
After speeches were made, the boat cruised along the canal to where Mai cut a yellow ribbon strung from one bank to the other. She thanked Hoppers for bringing the development to the region, creating job opportunities and growth.
Earlier, Leigh Hopper had outlined Marsden Cove's history to the crowd.
The initial stage included a 230-berth marina and commercial centre, more than 60 exclusive canal-front sections and 40 non-canal sections facing cul-de-sacs and connecting streets.
In successive stages, another 150 sections have been released. The latest development will bring the subdivision's total to 290 properties.
An aerial view of the new canal and ribbon cutting ceremony at Marsden Cove's harbour setting.
The new-to-Northland concept of canal-side living was slow to take off in the early days, and Marsden Cove was then hit by the global financial crisis. Having picked up some years ago, the development has sold more than 80 per cent of its properties.
"Marsden Cove is unique in New Zealand. We love and enjoy creating this product, and when you see you the families enjoying the canal over summer you understand how special it is. Marsden Cove plays a key part in the growth of Bream Bay,'' Hopper said.
Leigh Hopper, left, with Patuharakeke kaumatua Paraire Pirihi, Pera Mackie and kuia Heidi Pirihi at the blessing ceremony.
On Friday evening, kaumatua from local hapū Patuharakeke, joined by the Hopper family and staff, blessed the site.
''It was a privilege to have Patuharakeke bless the canal prior to the canal opening today. Marsden Cove is a special place not just to us but to all those who have come before and those in the future," Hopper said.
