Neither the Government nor Maori would own the nation's beaches under a proposal to settle the dispute over laws governing the foreshore and seabed.

Developers maintain plan for apartments and cafe only viable use for old building.

A council committee will today consider its response to a recent law change that allows trees to be trimmed without a resource consent.

Residents near an iconic beach are unsettled by development plans but the land's owners are promising not to ruin the untouched paradise.

Songwriter extraordinaire Neil Finn is also proving himself adept as a property developer.