Media

The Waimauku West developer says people should look at their track record and trust them to deliver a great outcome.
We think decisions of this scale should be grounded in independent evidence, not promises, and the community must have a genuine voice in determining its future.
Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara chief executive Ngarimu Blair said: “If this cannot demonstrate that it won’t flood the area or destroy ecological values, we will not support it.”
As our Co-Chair Tatjana Ratsdorf says, if the proposed works genuinely improve flooding outcomes, that would be a positive thing. The question is whether that has been independently proven, particularly during extreme weather events rather than more routine storms. During discussions with the planner, the messaging shifted from “zero impact” to “no unacceptable impact”. That’s a significant difference. Those kinds of contradictions do not build confidence or trust and make it harder for us to have faith that the full risks and impacts are being thoroughly planned.
What level of flooding is considered acceptable, and who gets to decide?
And what about the traffic issues? What will the developer do to resolve those issues?
Chris Bishop has confirmed that the much needed North-West Alternative State Highway has no construction start date for the project and suggested it is anticipated to be delivered within the next 30 years.
WCA supports well-planned growth. Our concern remains simple: is development happening in the right place, at the right time, with infrastructure in place before people move in?
But while the developer says their track record should give the community confidence, many important questions about flooding, traffic and infrastructure remain unanswered.
Read the article and decide for yourself (it’s behind a paywall)

This Sunday Star-Times article asks an important question: are we building the right homes in the right places, with the infrastructure needed to support them?
It examines the growing debate around the Government’s fast-track pathway and the decisions being made by Minister Chris Bishop.
The story features Waimauku Community Association Co-chair Tatjana Ratsdorf alongside community leaders, residents and elected representatives from across New Zealand who are raising concerns about growth occurring ahead of infrastructure and local planning.
“We are calling on the government to pause existing greenfield housing fast-track applications and are asking all political parties to support legislation to remove residential development in rural areas from the Fast-Track Approvals Act 2024,” that’s the message from Mayor Wayne Brown and other mayors around the country.
For a long time, concerns about fast-track developments were written off as local opposition. Now, it’s clear these concerns are being shared nationwide by communities, councils and elected representatives.
A timely and balanced look at a debate that’s quickly become a national conversation.

Waimauku Community Association Co-Chair Tatjana Ratsdorf was interviewed by 1News as part of the growing national conversation about fast-track housing developments and their impact on local communities.
We are not alone in raising these concerns and are connecting with, and learning from communities across New Zealand facing similar challenges, making sure Our Community’s Voice is part of the discussion.
Have a watch and see how we are helping shape the conversation.

National MP for Kaipara ki Mahurangi, Chris Penk, has publicly raised concerns about the proposed Waimauku West development, despite the Government fast-tracking the project.

Co-chairwoman Tatjana Ratsdorf welcomed Penk advocating against the project but urged him to go further.

“We want Mr Penk to take a much stronger and more visible stand for the community he represents,” Ratsdorf told the Herald.

With a Frontpage video about the fast track process: “Is the Fast-track Act delivering growth or creating problems?”

Residents in flood-prone Waimauku are opposing a proposed 2,000-home development that has entered the Government’s fast-track approval process. Locals and Auckland Council warn the project could worsen flooding and strain roads, water, and wastewater infrastructure.

With interview video of our chair and treasurer.