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Save Te Arai says public access to the iconic Te Arai surf beach is under threat from the private development being carried out by Darby Partners, acting for US billionaire Ric Kayne. The development covers about 600 hectares and includes an 18-hole links golf course, more than 40 luxury house sites and an airstrip.
New Zealand First is concerned locals near Te Arai Beach are not being consulted as an exclusive coastal development progresses.Residents recently submitted a 6100 signature petition to Auckland Council’s Regulatory Committee in a last ditch effort to be heard.
“They feel it has been swept aside,” NZ First List MP Tracey Martin says. “The Te Arai community had a huge battle over the beach car park, after consent was approved to move it back from the sea and behind the new multimillion dollar houses.
“There was a win on that front with the retention of the sea front car park and the addition of an overflow car park. However, it is our understanding that the developers then lobbied former Minister of Finance, now Prime Minister Bill English, to waive public consultation outlined in the Crown Forest Assets Act 1989 over amendments to the width of a public access easement.”
Northland MP Winston Peters says that on February 7, Minister of Finance Steven Joyce signed off a change to the beach access road without even discussing it with the community. He claimed in Parliament last week that it would enhance their access, but that is not the community’s view.
“He typically took the stance that he need not consult,” Mr Peters said.
“Mr Joyce said in his answers that, ‘it is important to remember that this is iwi-owned land’. He neglected to mention that the iwi, seriously financially challenged, have had to partner with US billionaire Ric Kayne’s company Te Arai North Ltd, to get a return on their money or lose it.
“Why do Kiwis, going about their lives as best they can, have to fight every step of the way to preserve what is their right against a billionaire developer from another country and a complicit government?” Mr Peters said.
