PHOTO: The land is owned by Stephen Brownlie, owner of Hawke’s Bay-based juice company Kiwi Fresh
Major Housing Development in Kerikeri Could Add 3000 New Homes, Doubling Population!
A proposed housing development in Kerikeri could significantly transform the Bay of Islands boom town, potentially adding up to 3000 new homes and almost doubling the current population of 8000 residents.
If approved, the development will be built on farmland located between Kerikeri township and the commercial center of Waipapa. The land is owned by Stephen Brownlie, owner of the Hawke’s Bay-based juice company Kiwi Fresh.
Brownlie initially bought his first block of land on State Highway 10 in 2012 with plans for an orange orchard. He later acquired several adjoining lots, accumulating a total of 197 hectares, with approximately 120 hectares available for development. The property is bordered by State Highway 10, Bay of Islands Golf Course, and the Kerikeri River.
Dennis Corbett, Northland representative on the Kiwi Fresh project group, stated that the development aims to address the issue of affordable housing in Kerikeri, thanks to the economies of scale from the large, greenfield site. “One of the keys is we can address affordable housing. It’s a major issue in the area at the moment, and we’ll be providing somewhere between 2500 to 3000 houses,” Corbett said.
The proposed development, named Te Pae Waiora, will be built in stages over the next 30 years to meet Kerikeri’s housing needs. The plan is designed to maintain Waipapa as the commercial center while preserving Kerikeri’s village atmosphere.
The development also includes provisions for a new school, supermarket, and hotel. However, the project hinges on the land being rezoned from rural production to residential, and Kiwi Fresh has submitted a request for this zoning change to the Far North District Council.
Part of the proposed development borders Kerikeri River and Rainbow Falls. Photo: Supplied / Ash Boyd
Corbett emphasized the need for Kerikeri to expand to accommodate the growing demand for housing. “We’ve got people traveling from out of town to work here in Kerikeri because they can’t find affordable housing. We also want to address connectivity to State Highway 10 and Waipapa Road, taking some pressure off Kerikeri Road,” he said.
Previous development efforts in the area were hindered by flood risks, but Corbett explained that plans for a 120-meter-wide spillway, utilizing a natural drainage path and existing waterfall, will mitigate the risk of one-in-100-year floods. The spillway could also reduce flooding in Waipapa and along nearby Waitotara Drive.
Another challenge for development around Kerikeri is the limited capacity of the town’s sewage treatment plant. Corbett indicated that until there is capacity to connect to a council scheme, wastewater will be treated on-site.
Aerial image showing the location of the proposed development relative to Kerikeri and Waipapa. Photo: Supplied
The project includes plans for new roads connecting Golf View Road, State Highway 10, and Waipapa Road, as well as a new bridge over Kerikeri River and a network of walkways and cycle paths. Additionally, three new golf holes will be built to replace greens lost to the new access road.
The Far North District Council is currently considering five options for the future expansion of Kerikeri as part of the Kerikeri-Waipapa Spatial Plan, which will outline preferred growth areas over the next 30 years. The council is expected to make a decision soon.
The Kiwi Fresh proposal represents one of the potential growth options and has garnered significant public interest. However, the council noted that part of the Kiwi Fresh land is prone to flood hazards and is not close to existing infrastructure.
Separately, another major development is underway on the 20-hectare Bing Property in central Kerikeri, which could add 350 homes, a “lifestyle village,” and new commercial developments next to the town center.
As Kerikeri continues to grow, the proposed developments will play a crucial role in shaping the town’s future and addressing the housing needs of its expanding population.
SOURCE: RNZ