Waimauku West – Introduction

Key data and Timeline

On 24 February 2025 Auckland Council was gazetting the acquisition of 1080 State Highway 16 (Pukeatua Block – the subject site) under the Public Works Act for cemetery purposes. The notice of intention was published on the Gazette website.

On 20 March 2025 Federated Farmers objected to the acquisition, stating concerns about the loss of productive farmland. Ref: https://www.fedfarm.org.nz/FFPublic/FFPublic/Policy2/Regional/2024/Letter-of-objection-to-the-Compulsory-Acquisition-for-Cemetery-20-Mar-2025.aspx

On 14 July 2025 Auckland Council publishes a memorandum not to proceed with Public Works Act acquisition of 1080 State Highway 16 for cemetery purposes, stating as reasons:

• An inability to address concerns raised by mana whenua, which could not be resolved through engagement, and would likely delay or prevent the ability to obtain the necessary Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) zoning/consents to enable the land to be used as a cemetery.
• Further information becoming available of a proposed alternative use of the land for housing, due to the council being advised of a Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 application being progressed, which is supported by mana whenua.

The council also noted that it “was also recently made aware of a proposed application by HHL under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 for residential dwellings on the site, and that mana whenua were in support of the application.”

1st July 2025, councillor Greg Sayers did publish a post on his website that also addresses flooding but fails to highlight the actual issue. “Auckland Council needs to stop granting consents for houses in flood plains, particularly when this puts lives at risk.”. While we obviously agree with that sentiment, it should be noted that this is not the only issue. With more development outside the flood plans, the increased stormwater from those developments will broaden the existing flood plan and thus the harm to people that were never part of such.
He also states that “Keeping the roadside drains open and clear of blockages is equally important”. While this is important for the people living around those drains, the increased capacity and more importantly velocity will worsen the flooding and backflow downstream, again affecting people that were never part of any flood plain.
This is exactly what WCA is mostly concerned about as it is an unregarded issue, particularly for the Kaipara catchment due to its tidal character.

Newsroom article from 23 July 2025.

Late July 2025 members of the WCA have been writing emails to Kaipara Moana, Whititera Trust, the local board, local MP Chris Penk and Chris Bishop, stating concerns about flood risks relating to the proposed housing development. Only very few responses were received, mostly auto replies.