The Rōpū of Marutūāhu, Ngāti Whātua and Waiohua-Tāmaki, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, have welcomed the inclusion of the Unitec Residential Development project in the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Bill (the Bill). The project is a large-scale housing development opportunity under the Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Treaty redress arrangements.

The development, which will be delivered by the Rōpū, is one of an increasing number of projects being led by Tāmaki iwi to provide Auckland with much needed new housing. The Rōpū look forward to the opportunity to accelerate resource consent applications for the residential development of the site to assist with New Zealand’s economic and social recovery from COVID-19.  

The vision for the development is contained in the Reference Masterplan and Strategic Framework for the site, and is:

He hononga tika ki te hangai ngā hapori toitū me he tāone taioreore mai ngā auahatanga me ngā ahurea taukiri o te hapori – a true partnership to establish inclusive, sustainable communities and world class city building through vibrant and innovative place-making. 

The Unitec site was identified in the Auckland Unitary Plan as a future urban village, with the planning provisions enabling a master-planned, medium to high-density residential development.  

The development will combine innovative, high-quality urban design, integrate iwi identity and cultural values, and the site’s natural, ecological and built heritage. It will also contribute to Auckland Council’s aspiration for a quality, compact city, with improved pedestrian and cycle connections part of planned infrastructure upgrades. 

About the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Bill

The Bill aims to support the economic recovery from COVID-19 by introducing new processes to fast-track resource consents, while upholding environmental outcomes. If passed, the Bill is anticipated to speed up the development of the project site, particularly through reducing the timeframes for consents to be processed. 

The Bill will allow projects listed in the legislation such as the Unitec Residential Development to progress straight to an Expert Consenting Panel.  Expert Consenting Panels will be appointed to consider and determine resource consents for the project, in place of Auckland Council, for the two years of the legislation’s life. 

For further information about the Bill, and the timeframes for its consideration by Parliament and select committee, please visit www.mfe.govt.nz(external link), etc.

For more information about Unitec, please visit Unitec residential development(external link).