Sign In / Register
The population of Mangawhai, one of the fastest growing areas in the country, is projected to grow to about 14,500 by 2043, and a number of proposed developments are at various stages of advancement. They include:
Mangawhai Hills
Mangawhai Hills, an extensive proposed residential development on 2.2 square kilometres of rural land west of the village, is the subject of an application for a private plan change to the Kaipara District Plan (PPC 84).
Located between Tara Road, Cove Road, Old Waipu Road and Moir Street, it would entail up to 600 large-lot residential sites, among wetlands, streams, native bush and around 15 kilometres of walking and bike trails.
Kaipara District Council (KDC) notified the application for public input last August, receiving 76 submissions. Twelve more were lodged during a further submissions period that ended in mid-December.
Supporters of the plan change cited the developer’s commitment to protect the ecology, create recreation opportunities and provide open public spaces, together with housing in the growing town.
Opponents raised concerns about a worsening of traffic congestion, potential flooding, loss of productive farmland, and adverse effects on the environment. Some also pointed to infrastructure limitations, especially wastewater services.
Public hearings will be held from May 28 to 30.
https://www.kaipara.govt.nz/mangawhaihills
The Rise
A step further down the track is a private plan change application (PPC83) to rezone 56.9 hectares of rural land east of Cove Road and north of Mangawhai Heads Road for residential development.
Public hearings on the proposed development were held at the Mangawhai Bowling Club from March 26 to 28.
PPC 83 seeks to rezone the site from rural to residential zone and create a bespoke precinct.
The owners of the site, The Rise Limited, are proposing a development of around 380 sections, with an average lot size of 600 square metres.
Public submissions were invited in August and further submissions in October, and a total of 72 were received, with some raising concerns about wastewater treatment, increased traffic congestion, ecological impact and potential flooding risk.
Others offered support, in some cases conditional on amendments regarding lot sizes, traffic management, predator controls and other issues.
https://www.kaipara.govt.nz/the-rise
Lake View Estate Stage Two
The proposed 135 hectare development on Devich Road entails 67 rural residential lots, ranging in size from 4000sqm to 3.5 hectares.
KDC in June 2022 granted resource consent for the Vermont Street Partners (VSP) project, but progress stalled with an Environment Court appeal.
“We eagerly await the court’s decision,” VSP managing director Edward Sundstrum said.
He added that the company remained committed to delivering the project.
“We anticipate relaunching the project in early 2025 with a view to commencing construction of Lake
View Estate Stage Two in October 2025,” he said.
Mangawhai Village
KDC and Northland Regional Council gave resource consent last year to a Metlifecare’s retirement village, comprising 160 single-level two-and three-bedroom villas and a 45-bed, hospital-level care home.
Site works on the 13-hectare greenfield site off Sailrock Drive, north of the golf club in Mangawhai Heads, is due to begin within months.
Metlifecare said it expects the first residents will move into Mangawhai Village in mid-2026.
Mangawhai Central
This large-scale retail, commercial and residential development linking the village and the Heads was the subject of the biggest private plan change application ever to come before KDC. PPC 78 was notified in 2020 and went through the full process, including an appeal to the Environment Court, with the parties settling out of court in 2022.
The 116 hectare property off Molesworth Drive, advertised as having the capacity for up to 1200 residential units, has been on the market since last spring. Colliers director Blair Peterken said in mid-March he had no update on the campaign.
The Gateway
(corner of Molesworth Drive and Estuary Drive)
KEA Property Group plans a mixed-use business hub, including office suites, on the corner of Molesworth and Estuary Drive, opposite the Mangawhai Museum.
An independent commissioner last August approved Gull’s application for resource consent to operate an unmanned petrol station there. But in a separate decision, council declined a request by Gull to grant an easement to improve access to the corner site.
A Gull spokesperson said the company was currently reviewing the feasibility of the site in conjunction with the landlord, and hoped to have a resolution soon.
