A recent announcement regarding a Māori Housing Partnership highlights plans to deliver 198 affordable rental homes across New Zealand, with developments targeted at areas of high need. Eight of the 12 projects are located in priority locations such as Northland, East Coast, Hawke’s Bay, and the Bay of Plenty. Notably, projects will also take place in Nelson, Taumarunui, Masterton, and Ohakune
"where the proposed developments demonstrated a significant need for supply and affordable rentals or had a strong focus on exiting whānau from emergency housing and transitional housing."
The Ohakune initiative follows an earlier press release in October about four affordable rental units constructed on iwi land at Foyle Street.
The Foyle Street Development, built on iwi land, has been a welcome step in providing housing for whānau on iwi land. It took a while year to get a true answer from MHUD (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development) as there was initial confusion over whether government funding was involved, subsequent statements confirmed its support through MHUD. This transparency is critical in housing discussions and sets a precedent for collaborative efforts between iwi and government agencies.
However, there is growing concern from Ohakune Ratepayers and Stakeholders (ORS) about the Ruapehu District Council’s (RDC) potential plans for housing development on Teitei Drive, a ratepayer-owned piece of land adjacent to the iconic Carrot Park. ORS raises several critical questions that remain unanswered, as RDC continues to miss legal timeframes and obligations under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA).
Key Concerns Raised by ORS:
Inflated Data on Ohakune’s Housing Need: ORS questions the accuracy of data being used to justify new housing developments in Ohakune. During the proposed Teitei Drive "Ohakune Social Housing Project", it was revealed that only 10 people or families were on the MSD housing waiting list, while over 100 homes were for sale in Ohakune at the time. Adding to this, the closure of Winstone Pulp International (WPI) is resulting in population decline, further increasing housing availability and driving down prices to historically affordable levels. These trends suggest that the perceived housing need may have been significantly overstated, raising concerns about the validity of any proposed developments in the area.
Continued Consideration of Teitei Drive for Housing: Despite strong public interest in preserving this land, there is concern that RDC is still exploring housing development options for Teitei Drive. Such a project could impact the community’s use of the iconic Carrot Park area, a significant tourist and local attraction.
Legality of Teitei Drive’s Intersection with SH49: Investigations reveal that the intersection of Teitei Drive with State Highway 49 may have been illegally formed. This raises serious safety and compliance issues that must be addressed before any further development is considered.
Missing Approval Records: RDC has reportedly been unable to locate physical or electronic records showing approval for Teitei Drive’s original development concept or its signoff. Without this documentation, any new housing developments on Teitei Drive would lack a legally consented access road.
Snowmass Walkway as Reserve Land: The public continues to call for the walkway between Snowmass and Teitei Drive to be officially vested as reserve land, as was originally agreed upon with the Snowmass developer. RDC’s lack of action on this issue has fueled frustration among residents.
A Call for Transparency and Action
ORS welcomes projects like the Foyle Street development, where iwi-led housing initiatives provide much-needed affordable rentals on iwi land. However, they strongly oppose using ratepayer-owned land, such as Teitei Drive, for housing developments without proper consultation, transparency, and legal compliance.
It is imperative for RDC to address these concerns promptly and demonstrate accountability to the community they serve as there is clear evidence of cutting corners, filing applications for government funding while providing false statements or not including complete facts; council has done the same with Consultation processes, withholding key information they had prior knowledge of, to ensure their project is approved without any opposition. Questions about safety, legality, and public access cannot be ignored, especially when they involve public assets and areas of cultural and recreational significance.
What’s Next?
As discussions around housing developments in Ohakune continue, ORS encourages the community to stay informed and engaged. Together, we can ensure that future housing solutions are developed responsibly, transparently, and with respect for the land and its people.
Stay tuned for updates as we await RDC’s responses and further developments on this issue. New OIA's on this matter
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