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Plans for a resort village at an unspoiled north Auckland beach are to be revised in light of sharp criticism from regulators and conservation experts.
Critics of the proposal say its urban nature cuts across regional and local planning aims for the Pakiri-Mangawhai area.
It would also bring more people to remote Te Arai Beach where it is hoped the "critically threatened" New Zealand fairy tern will start breeding again.
Rodney District Council planning commissioners were to begin next week a marathon hearing of a request for a plan change and a variation to the district's major planning documents.
But the commissioners yesterday approved a request by the promoters to put the hearing on hold so it could respond to a council staff recommendation that the plan change be withdrawn.
The earliest date now for the hearing is late October.
The site was bought by Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust from the Government as part of its Treaty of Waitangi settlement in 2002.
"We have gone to extraordinary lengths to produce a proposal which has considerable social and economic benefits to the local area and Te Uri o Hau," said trust chairman Russell Kemp.
Applicant Te Arai Coastal Lands is the trust's joint venture with Queenstown-based developer New Zealand Land Trust.
It seeks a special zone for 616ha of pine forest at Te Arai Beach, south of Mangawhai Harbour, to build a resort settlement.
Last year, the joint venture modified its aims from a settlement of 1400 homes to 850 in response to public comment.
However, this plan drew 1666 objections and only 58 in support.
A director of the joint venture, John Darby, said the council report raised several questions "which we need to consider, particularly in the balance between development and environmental protection".
The site has 5km of frontage to an area which is of national significance because it is used for breeding by the threatened fairy tern, says the Bioresearches consultancy's critique of the applicant's plans to limit disturbance to wildlife.
Te Arai Beach Preservation Society chairman Mark Walker said if the council turned down the idea of a new town, negotiations for the Crown purchase of the land for a regional park would be rekindled.
Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee said the council had arranged talks with the developer about its objection to the proposal but not about any potential purchase of park land.
AVIAN RESCUE
* Two of only four fairy tern breeding sites in New Zealand are on the Pakiri-Mangawhai coastline.
* The Te Arai Stream, which runs through the site, is important for resting and feeding and for birds too young to breed or who can't find a mate.
* The fairy tern population is "critically threatened" with 35-40 individuals worldwide.
