Rangitoopuni Forest

Project summary

The project is a staged, large-scale subdivision that will transition existing production forest to a predominantly rural-residential and open space environment. Development staging is proposed to align with the forestry harvest cycle.

The development would include low-density residential forest lots. A smaller number of more compact housing would be built near proposed community hubs. It also includes provision for marae and papakāinga housing.

The project involves:

• approximately 3,407–4,164 residential forest lots ranging from approximately 2,500 m² to 1 hectare
• four community hubs, including small-scale commercial and retail activities, housing, community infrastructure, accommodation, and education facilities
• a recreation hub, including outdoor recreation services and associated community, cultural, and accommodation infrastructure
• the establishment of the Te Kawerau ā Maki-owned Rangitoopuni Forest Reserve, approximately 573 hectares of regenerating native forest and land available for public access
• approximately 200 km of publicly accessible walking and cycling tracks
• private infrastructure to be owned and operated by Te Kawerau ā Maki
• the protection and enhancement of riparian margins and wetland areas
• landscaping and native planting, including large-scale ngahere restoration across the site, with approximately 2,500 hectares of protected native vegetation across the reserve and covenanted areas on private lots
• all associated works required to enable the development, including earthworks, roading, open space formation, stream works, and on-site stormwater, wastewater, and water supply infrastructure.

The project is proposed to be undertaken in eight stages over an approximately 20 years with construction to start in late 2027 to early 2028 and end by 2048.

The applicant is seeking the following approvals via the Fast-track approvals process to authorise the project:

• resource consents under the Resource Management Act 1991, potentially including for activities prohibited under regulation 53 of the National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NES-F), and for standard freshwater fisheries activities as described in section 42(4)(a) of the Act
• wildlife approvals under the Wildlife Act 1953 as described in section 42(4)(h) of the Act
• archaeological authorities under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 as described in section 42(4)(i) of the Act
• an approval, a dispensation, or an authorisation that would otherwise be applied for in respect of a complex freshwater fisheries activity under the Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1983 or the Conservation Act 1987 as described in section 42(4)(j) of the Act.

Project location

The project is located in the Riverhead (Rangitoopuni) Forest, northwest of Auckland city. It includes seven adjoining landholdings with a total area of approximately 3,052 hectares. Approximately 2,242 hectares of this total area has been identified as developable land.

Project referral

Notice of decisions on application for referral of the Rangitoopuni Forest project (PDF, 181 KB)