Appeal to ministers: Stop Northland coast carve-up

Alarm is growing over the possible sale and development of the Ngunguru Sandspit. Picture / Michael Cunningham

Conservationists on Northland's east coast are urging the Government to slap a moratorium on coastal subdivisions until national guidelines for coastal development are drawn up.

They want a land-based version of the recent national moratorium on marine farming while aquaculture management areas were developed.

A coastal development moratorium would be accompanied by a review to identify suitable areas for subdivision and to place other sensitive coastal or special areas off limits.

Watchdog groups see unspoilt stretches of Northland's coastline being targeted by developers aiming to attract wealthy local and overseas buyers, some of whom might live on their property for only a few days a year.

Bay of Islands residents are worried about the cumulative effects of some coastal developments proposed or soon to be built.

Further south, alarm is growing over the possible sale and development of the Ngunguru Sandspit and its adjacent coastal forest area, known as Whakairiora Mountain.

Conservationist, diver and author Wade Doak is urging Cabinet ministers to designate the entire Sandspit and Whakairiora area a national heritage park, based on research he's carried out in the area.

Other major developments are proposed for Butterfly Bay, south of Whangaroa Harbour, and at Te Arai Pt, south of Mangawhai.

"Everyone wants a slice of the cake and we'll eventually destroy what we're coming to the seaside for," said Bay of Islands Coastal Watchdog Group secretary David Clarkson.

The group was not against all coastal development, but believed any development should be "appropriate and sympathetic" to the area's natural character.

No one has defined what "appropriate" development is and the Bay of Islands and other groups are now seeking a temporary halt to subdivision of coastal areas until a review can assess the situation.

They hope the review will lead to national guidelines to guide district and regional councils faced with coastal subdivision and other development proposals.

The groups acknowledge that the Resource Management Act and local bodies' district and coastal plans already impose restrictions.

"But there are still large loopholes people can drive bulldozers through," Mr Clarkson said. "These need to be tidied up before there's any further coastal development.

"We're stewards for this land for our children and our children's children. They'll look back at us in 100 years and ask how the hell did you let this happen?"

Eastern Bay of Islands Preservation Society committee member Barbara Waller said the society didn't want to trample on people's rights but there had to be a balance to development. Legislation was needed to recognise and protect special coastal areas to give certainty to developers.

Major coastal developments either approved or going through approval processes in the Bay of Islands include Mataka Station, with residential farm park blocks on the Purerua Peninsula (approved); Mountain Landing on Te Puna Inlet, where 18 residences are proposed on Outstanding Natural Landscape units; and Bentzen Farms (now known as Tai Awhi Awhi), a large coastal subdivision on the Rawhiti Peninsula.

Opponents believe no development should be allowed on any outstanding natural landscape areas.

Further south at Ngunguru Sandspit and Whakairiora, Wade Doak strongly supported the moratorium call.

An application for consent to subdivide Whakairiora goes before the Whangarei District Council next week but Mr Doak believed the area may have had sacred Maori ceremonial uses and could qualify as a wahi tapu [sacred site].

He said further research should be undertaken and a precautionary approach was needed "before bulldozers assail the integrity of Whakairiora for all time".

Development had been the product of "a hothouse economic boom with lots of money swilling around and people from overseas finding New Zealand a bit of a lifeboat and an easy place to invest in", he said.

The watchdog groups and Mr Doak have written to several Cabinet ministers, including Environment Minister Marian Hobbs and Local Government and Conservation Minister Chris Carter, calling for the moratorium.

Rural land schemes

Major developments in Northland:

* Mataka Station on Purerua Peninsula, Bay of Islands (approved)

* Mountain Landing on Te Puna Inlet, Bay of Islands (in final stages)

* Bentzen Farms/Tai Awhi Awhi on Rawhiti Peninsula, Bay of Islands (seeking consent)

* Whakairiora Mountain coastal forest near Ngunguru Sandspit (seeking consent)