3 Apr 2012

Hawke's Bay peninsular housing plan rejected

7:11 pm on 3 April 2012

Plans for a housing development on Mahia Peninsula in Hawke's Bay have been rejected.

Two independent commissioners have ruled against a proposal to develop a seven hectare coastal block into 35 residential sites and a campsite.

The development was proposed on Maori land owned by George Ormond, who says the whenua (land) has been in his whanau since about 1884.

The commissioners acknowledged the plan has been a catalyst for divisions in the local community.

In their decision, they say the effect on the environment would be more than minor.

The proposal attracted 1200 submissions with almost 90% of them against the development.