Minutes of the expert panel

24 February 2026 – Minute 19

The expert panel issued Minute 19 regarding their response to memoranda from the applicant and councils.

Minute 19 of the expert panel (PDF, 170KB)

23 February 2026 – Minute 18

The expert panel issued Minute 18 regarding:

  • the applicant's request to suspend processing of the application from Friday 20 February 2026 until Friday 27 February 2026

  • expert conferencing on groundwater/stormwater issues

  • correspondence received from an adjacent landowner.

Minute 18 of the expert panel (PDF, 134KB)

20 February 2026

Minute 17

The expert panel issued Minute 17 addressing the applicant's memorandum of counsel dated 20 February 2026.

Minute 17 of the expert panel (PDF, 107KB)

Minute 16

The expert panel issued Minute 16, identifying stormwater consent issues arising from the applicant’s response to Minute 14.

Minute 16 of the expert panel (PDF, 115KB)

Stormwater disposal hydrogeological assessment by Jon Williamson (PDF, 184KB)

5 February 2026 – Minute 15

The expert panel issued Minute 15 granting the applicant's request to suspend processing of the application. The suspension will start from Thursday 5 February until Friday 20 February 2026.

Minute 15 of the expert panel (PDF, 114KB)

4 February 2026 – Minute 14

The expert panel issued Minute 14 requesting further information from the applicant.

Minute 14 of the expert panel (PDF, 120KB)

29 January 2026 – Minute 13

The expert panel issued Minute 13 requesting further information from the applicant.

Minute 13 of the expert panel (PDF, 114KB)

28 January 2026 – Minute 12

The expert panel issued Minute 12 regarding the appointment of special advisors.

Minute 12 of the expert panel (PDF, 114KB)

22 January 2026 – Minute 11

The expert panel issued Minute 11 regarding:

  • a request for information from the applicant

  • the decision to accept unsolicited correspondence received.

Minute 11 of the expert panel (PDF, 162KB)

Attachment 1 – Slattery correspondence (PDF, 414KB)

22 December 2025 – Minute 10

The expert panel issued Minute 10 granting the applicant's request to suspend processing of the application. The suspension will start from 11:59pm on 19 December 2025.

Minute 10 of the expert panel (PDF, 113KB)

18 December 2025 – Minute 9

The expert panel issued Minute 9 requesting further information from the Applicant.

Minute 9 of the expert panel (PDF, 348KB)

17 December 2025 – Minute 8

The expert panel issued Minute 8 requesting further information from the Applicant.

Minute 8 of the expert panel (PDF, 106KB)

15 December 2025 – Minute 7

The expert panel issued Minute 7 requesting further information from Matamata-Piako District Council.

Minute 7 of the expert panel (PDF, 143KB)

9 December 2025 – Minute 6

The expert panel issued Minute 6 granting the applicant's request to suspend processing of the application. The suspension will start from 5.00 pm on 11 December 2025.

Minute 6 of the expert panel (PDF, 125KB)

8 December 2025 – Minute 5

The expert panel issued Minute 5 requesting information from the applicant.

Minute 5 of the expert panel (PDF, 89KB)

3 December 2025 – Minute 4 

The expert panel issued Minute 4 regarding:

  • appointment of special advisors

  • joint witness conferencing

  • a request for further information.

Minute 4 of the expert panel (PDF, 191KB)

21 November 2025 – Minute 3

The expert panel issued Minute 3 recording their requests for further information to:

  • the applicant

  • Matamata-Piako District Council

  • Waikato Regional Council.

Minute 3 of the expert panel (PDF, 241KB)

13 October 2025 – Minute 2

The expert panel issued Minute 2 recording:

  • the site visit undertaken by the expert panel on 8 October 2025

  • requesting additional information from the applicant.

Minute 2 of the expert panel (PDF, 124KB)

13 October 2025 – Minute 1

The expert panel issued Minute 1 recording their decision on which parties are to be invited to comment.

Minute 1 of the expert panel (PDF, 830KB)

 

Correspondence to the panel

24 February 2026

A further memorandum was filed on behalf of the applicant, Matamata Development Limited (MDL), in relation to Minute 18 of the expert panel.

Further memorandum of counsel for MDL – 24 February 2026 (PDF, 750KB)

A memorandum was filed on behalf of the applicant, Matamata Development Limited (MDL), responding to the memorandum of counsel filed on behalf of the Matamata-Piako District Council and Waikato Regional Council dated 23 February 2026.

Memorandum of counsel for MDL – 24 February 2026 (PDF, 348KB)

23 February 2026

Applicant

A memorandum was filed on behalf of the applicant, Matamata Development Limited (MDL), in relation to Minutes 16, 17 and 18 of the expert panel.

Memorandum of counsel for MDL – 23 February 2026 (PDF, 347KB)

Matamata-Piako District Council and Waikato Regional Council 

A memorandum was filed on behalf of Matamata-Piako District Council and Waikato Regional Council in relation to the Panel’s directions issued in Minute 18.

Memorandum of Counsel for MPDC and WRC in response to Minute 18 (PDF, 132KB)

22 February 2026

The applicant confirmed their request to suspend the application, effective from Monday 23 February 2026.

Email from applicant confirming suspension (PDF, 117KB)

20 February 2026

Webb Gould Law

A letter was filed by Webb Gould Law on behalf of their client in relation to Lot 5 DP 365568 and their concerns relating to stormwater.

Letter to expert panel from Webb Gould Law in relation to Lot 5 DP 365568 (PDF, 4.7MB)

Applicant

A memorandum was filed on behalf of the applicant, Matamata Development Limited (MDL), in relation to Minute 16 of the expert panel.

Memorandum of counsel for MDL responding to Minute 16 (PDF, 113KB)

13 February 2026

The applicant responded to the matters raised in Minute 14 of the expert panel.

Memorandum of counsel for MDL – 13 February 2026 (PDF, 7.5MB)

Memos

Hydrogeology Memo – Minute 14 Items 3-6 (PDF, 11.1MB)

Engineering Memo – Minute 14 – Item 7 (PDF, 260KB)

Planning Memo – Minute 14 – Item 7 (PDF, 465KB)

Geotechnical Memo (Active Faulting) (PDF, 1.7MB)

Insight Economics Memo (PDF, 178KB)

Urban Design Memo (PDF, 8.4MB)

Market Economics Memo (Affordability) (PDF, 282KB)

NPS-HPL Memo (PDF, 244KB

Proposed conditions

SUB_Day Zero_MPDC_Ashbourne (PDF, 132KB)

NES-CS Conditions_MPDC_Ashbourne Site Wide (PDF, 206KB)

Residential

Schedule 1 – Residential & Greenway – List of Reports and Drawings (PDF, 147KB)

Engineering Drawings – C220-EW CUT&FILL (In Alignment with JWS) (PDF, 25.1MB)

District

LUC_Residential and Commercial_MPDC_Ashbourne (PDF, 415KB)

SUB_Resi-Commercial-Greenway_MPDC_Ashbourne (PDF, 276KB)

Regional

WRC_Drilling_Resi-Greenway-Commercial_Ashboure_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 130KB)

WRC_Groundwater Diversion_Resi-Greenway-Commercial_Ashbourne (PDF, 154KB)

WRC_Groundwater Take_Resi-Greenway-Commercial_Ashbourne (PDF, 174KB)

WRC_Land Disturbance_Resi-Greenway-Commercial_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 229KB)

WRC_NPSFM_Resi-Greenway-Commercial_Ashbourne (PDF, 175KB)

WRC_Outlet_Resi-Greenway-Commercial_Ashbourne (PDF, 133KB)

WRC_Stormwater Discharge_Resi-Greenway-Commercial_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 160KB)

WRC_Structure on Bed of Water Body_Resi-Greenway-Commercial_Ashbourne (PDF, 133KB)

Retirement Village
District

LUC_Retirement Village_MPDC_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 124KB)

SUB_Retirement Village_MPDC_Ashbourne (PDF, 308KB)

Regional

WRC_Retirement Village_Drilling_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 2129KB)

WRC_Retirement Village_Groundwater Take_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 133KB)

WRC_Retirement Village_Land Disturbance_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 209KB)

WRC_Retirement Village_Stormwater Discharge_Ashbourne_Updated w Conucil Comments (PDF, 181KB)

WRC_Retirement Village_Temp GW Take_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 127KB)

WRC_Retirement Village_Wastewater Discharge Conditions_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Conditions (PDF, 213KB)

Solar Farms

Engineering Drawings_NORTHERN SOLAR FARM (PDF, 25.3MB)

District

LUC_Northern Solar Farm_MPDC_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 315KB)

LUC_Southern Solar Farm_MPDC_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 269KB)

Regional

WRC_Northern Solar Farm_Drilling_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 92KB)

WRC_Northern Solar Farm_Temp GW Take_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 121KB)

WRC_Southern Solar Farm_Culverts_Ashbourne (PDF, 113KB)

WRC_Southern Solar Farm_Drilling_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 93KB)

WRC_Southern Solar Farm_Temp GW Take_Ashbourne_Updated w Council Comments (PDF, 95KB)

5 February 2026

The applicant responded to Minute 14 of the expert panel, requesting a suspension from Thursday 5 February until Friday 20 February 2026.

Response from applicant to Minute 14 requesting suspension (PDF, 124KB)

30 January 2026

The applicant provided responses to Minutes 11 and 13, as requested by the expert panel.

Memorandum of Counsel on behalf of MDL (PDF, 269KB)

Covering letter on behalf of the applicant (PDF, 504KB)

Attachment 1 – National Direction Instruments Assessment (PDF, 413KB)

Attachment 2 – Traffic Memorandum (PDF, 529KB)

Attachment 3 – Typical Roading Cross-Sections and Station Road Drawing (PDF, 2.4MB)

Attachment 4 – Hydrogeology Memorandum (PDF, 325KB)

Attachment 5 – Updated Stormwater Management Plan (PDF, 14.2MB)

Attachment 6 – Infrastructure Report – Retirement Village (PDF, 879KB)

19 January 2026

The applicant provided responses to Minutes 8, 9 and 10 as requested by the expert panel.

Memorandum of counsel for Matamata Development Limited (PDF, 278KB)

Updated design guidelines in response to Minute 9 (PDF, 9.3MB)

Appendix A – Market Economics analysis (PDF, 1MB)

Appendix B – Barker & Associates planning memorandum (PDF, 271KB)

19 December 2025

Applicant

The applicant provided a memorandum of counsel requesting a suspension of processing from 11:59pm on 19 December 2025.

Memorandum of counsel of applicant requesting suspension (PDF, 554KB)

Matamata-Piako District Council

On 19 December 2025, Matamata-Piako District Council filed their response to the request for further information requested by the panel in Minute 7.

Matamata-Piako District Council cover letter (PDF, 196KB)

Memorandum from Property Economics on behalf of Matamata-Piako District Council (PDF, 4.3MB)

17 December 2025

Applicant

On 17 December 2025, a memorandum was filed on behalf of the applicant, Matamata Development Limited (MDL), to address matters arising from the Minute 4 of the expert panel. 

Memorandum of counsel on behalf of the Applicant (PDF, 348KB)

Matamata-Piako District Council

On 17 December 2025, a memorandum was filed on behalf of Matamata-Piako District Council to assist the Panel in determining the question of how regional significance should be considered and determined. Their latest submission is further to the Joint Memorandum of Counsel dated 11 December 2025.

Memorandum of counsel on behalf of Matamata-Piako District Council (PDF, 228KB)

16 December 2025

On 16 December 2025 Maven Waikato on behalf of Matamata Development Ltd, CKL NZ Ltd and Terrane Consultants on behalf of Matamata-Piako District Council, Waikato Regional Council and Wainui Consulting on behalf of Waikato Regional Council provided a joint witness statement regarding additional items on groundwater and stormwater management as directed in Minute 4.

Joint witness statement – groundwater and stormwater management additional items (PDF, 910KB)

11 December 2025

On 11 December 2025 the applicant and Matamata Piako District Council submitted a Memorandum to the panel, following up on Minute 6.

Memorandum of counsel from the applicant (PDF, 110KB)

Joint Witness Statements

Matamata Development Ltd, Matamata-Piako District Council and the panel-appointed hydrology and hydrogeology expert provided a joint witness statement regarding stormwater management as directed in Minute 4.

Joint witness statement – Groundwater (PDF, 2.6MB)

Matamata Development Ltd, CKL NZ Ltd on behalf of Matamata-Piako District Council, Waikato Regional Council and Wainui Consulting on behalf of Waikato Regional Council provided a joint witness statement regarding stormwater management as directed in Minute 4.

Joint witness statement – Stormwater (PDF, 849KB)

Matamata Development Limited, Matamata-Piako District Council and EPA provided a joint witness statement regarding economics as directed in Minute 4.

Joint witness statement – Economics (PDF, 535KB)

The Applicant

The applicant provided a response to the expert panel's request for further information as directed by in Minute 4.

Applicant Response to Minute 4 (PDF, 1 MB)

Attachment 1 – Engineering Drawings

Attachment 2 – Joint witness statements Q17 Active Faulting – all signed (PDF, 377 KB)

Attachment 3 – Traffic Response (PDF, 330 KB)

Attachment 4 – Residential Landscape Package

8 December 2025

The applicant provided a memorandum of counsel requesting a suspension of processing.

Memorandum of counsel requesting a suspension (PDF, 120KB)

Further Memorandum of counsel requesting a suspension (PDF, 119KB)

5 December 2025

Matamata–Piako District Council provided a response to the panel's request for information recorded in Minute 4.

Matamata–Piako District Council response on urban design (PDF, 299KB)

4 December 2025

The applicant provided a response to the panel's request for information recorded in Minute 4.

Cover Letter (PDF, 117KB)

Attachment 1 – Revised design guideline (PDF, 23MB)

Attachment 1B – Revised design guideline tracked changes (PDF, 25.6MB)

Attachment 2 – Land use consent plan (PDF, 8MB)

27 November 2025 

Waikato Regional Council

On 27 November 2025, the Waikato Regional Council provided a response to the panel's request for further information recorded in Minute 3.

Memorandum – Waikato Regional Council (PDF, 1.2 MB)

Matamata–Piako District Council

On 27 November 2025, the Matamata-Piako District Council provided a response to the panel's request for further information recorded in Minute 3.

Cover letter (PDF, 166 KB)

Memorandum 1 – Zoning and NPS HPL (PDF, 1 MB)

Memorandum 2 – Geotechnical matters and groundwater (PDF, 6 MB)

Memorandum 3.1 – Economic evidence (PDF, 2 MB)

Memorandum 3.2 – Economic evidence (PDF, 158 KB)

Memorandum 4 – Stormwater erosion and sediment control (PDF, 455 KB)

Memorandum 5 – Wastewater disposal and water supply (retirement village) (PDF, 202 KB)

Memorandum 6 – Transportation and traffic (PDF, 511 KB)

The applicant

On 27 November 2025, the applicant provided a response to the panel's request for further information recorded in Minute 3.

Letter to the Expert Panel counsel for the Applicant (PDF, 207 KB)

Memorandum of the applicant in response to Minute 3 (PDF, 422 KB)

Attachment 1 – Agreement with MPDC (PDF, 3 MB)

Attachment 2 – C150-SCHEME (PDF, 4 MB)

Attachment 3A – (Appendix 4D) C2200 C2400 Earthworks 251124 (PDF, 24 MB)

Attachment 3B – (Appendix 4D) C5000A Wastewater 251124 (PDF, 2 MB)

Attachment 4 – Updated UD Drawings (PDF, 13 MB)

Attachment 5 – Retirement village landscape drawings are provided in several parts
Attachment 6 – Residential landscape drawings are provided in several parts

Attachment 7 – C152-EW OXBOW WETLAND 2 (PDF, 1 MB)

Attachment 8 – C340-TYP RD SECTION (PDF, 1 MB)

Attachment 9 – Northern Solar Farm Tree Location (PDF, 330 KB)

Attachment 10 – Northern Downstream Flood Assessment (PDF, 1 MB)

Attachment 11 – Lot sizes adjoin rural residential and rural land (PDF, 65 KB)

Attachment 12 – Proposed Boundary Treatment Summary (PDF, 2 MB)

Attachment 13 – (Appendix 5N) Residential & Greenway Objectives & Policies Assessment V2 (PDF, 753 KB)

28 October 2025

The applicant provided a response to the panel's request for information recorded in Minute 2.

Memorandum in response to Minute 2 of the panel (PDF, 1.5MB)

Attachment 1 – Legal Memorandum (HPL) (PDF, 4.4MB)

Attachment 2A – Landscape Drawings (PDF, 18.8MB)

Attachment 2B – Landscape Drawings (PDF, 35.3MB)

Attachment 2C – Landscape Drawings (PDF, 19.4MB)

Attachment 3 – WWTP Details (PDF, 4.9MB)

Attachment 4 – Ecological Memo (PDF, 406KB)

Attachment 5 – Hydrogeology Memo (PDF, 1.3MB)

Attachment 6 – Esplanade Reserve Plan (PDF, 1.2MB)

Attachment 7 – Traffic Memo (PDF, 296KB)

 

Minutes of the panel convener

19 September 2025 − Minute 2

The panel convener issued Minute 2 regarding appointment of the expert consenting panel members and decision timeframe for the Ashbourne application.

Minute 2 of the panel convener (PDF, 123KB)

2 September 2025 – Minute 1

The panel convener issued Minute 1 regarding a conference to be held.

Minute 1 of the panel convener (PDF, 187KB)