Surf's up for Mexted

Mahia Peninsula locals say they will fight Murray Mexted's development in the Environment Court. Photo / Supplied

All Black legend and television personality Murray Mexted has the green light to develop a six-lot subdivision on the Mahia Peninsula by one of the nation's best surf beaches.

Angry locals say they will appeal the decision to the Environment Court.

Margaret Fraser, spokeswoman for community lobby group Mahanga E Tu, said the fight was not over.

"We are very disappointed about it," she said."Our main concerns are [about] the sewerage and the stream where they're putting tanalised posts. We're saying it could poison the kai moana."

Mahanga E Tu - which means stand up Mahanga - was set up by members of the community to oppose the development.

Fraser said development also involved putting three times more soil on to the site than council regulation allowed for and would divert a stream.

The group disagrees with the council approving the project and is considering taking the issue to the Environment Court.

"The council aren't listening to the people," she said. "They're not listening to the history. There have been a lot of issues and they haven't taken notice of the ecological report."

When the development was proposed, a separate group representing surfers opposed the plans because they believed a planned seawall would have affected the surf breaks.

Surfbreak Protection Society spokeswoman Monique Davis said after mediation her group and the developers had agreed on a new plan that wouldn't affect the surf.

Mexted could not be reached for comment yesterday. But last year he expressed surprise at locals' criticism, saying he and his business partner had consulted extensively.

He said he had never intended to prevent vehicle access to the beach and a planned rock wall to prevent erosion would retain vehicle access to the beach if the council required it.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: SEAN GILLESPIE