Draft decision and conditions
On 17 August 2026, the Stella Passage Development expert panel issued Minute 14 releasing its draft decision and conditions.
The panel proposes to grant the approvals sought in this application.
Minute 14 of the expert panel (PDF, 127 KB)
Stella Passage Development draft decision (PDF, 864 KB)
Appendix A – Draft Wildlife Approval Conditions (DOCX, 30 KB)
Appendix B – Draft District (Land Use) Conditions (DOCX, 28 KB)
Appendix C – Draft Dredging Conditions (DOCX, 634 KB)
Appendix D – Draft Structures Conditions (DOCX, 138 KB)
Under section 70 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 (the Act), an expert panel must invite comments on the draft conditions from:
the applicant
every person or group that provided comments under section 35 or 53
any local authority or other body with a statutory responsibility to enforce or monitor compliance with the conditions.
The panel must also issue the panel’s draft decision document for each approval in accordance with section 70(2)(b).
The panel set a deadline of 24 August 2026 for receiving these responses, with the exception of the applicant. The panel set a deadline of 19 August 2026 for receiving the applicant's response to draft conditions.
The panel also set a deadline of 31 August 2026 for the applicant to respond to comments received under section 70.
Under section 72 of the Act, an expert panel must invite comments on the draft decision, including any draft conditions, from:
the Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti
the Minister for Māori Development.
The panel set a deadline of 31 August 2026 for receiving this response.
Comments received on draft conditions under section 70
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council (PDF, 342 KB)
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council – Dredging conditions comments (PDF, 779 KB)
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council – Reclamation conditions comments (PDF, 476 KB)
- Director-General of Conservation (PDF, 404 KB)
- Ngā Tai ki Mauao (PDF, 132 KB)
- Ngāi Tukairangi Hapū Trust (PDF, 288 KB)
- Ngāti Kuku hapū & Trustees of Whareroa Marae (PDF, 109 KB)
- Ngāti Ranginui Iwi Society, Ngāti Ranginui Settlement Trust & Ngāti Ranginui Fisheries Trust (PDF, 444 KB)
- Pirirākau Tribal Authority Inc (PDF, 329 KB)
- Tauranga Moana Iwi Customary Fisheries Trust (PDF, 276 KB)
The expert panel accepted a late comment from Tauranga City Council:
Tauranga City Council (PDF, 213 KB)
Appendix B – Draft District (Land Use) Conditions (DOCX, 39 KB)
Comments received from the applicant
Memorandum of counsel (PDF, 352 KB)
Attachment A – Draft Dredging Conditions POTL Comments (DOCX, 648 KB)
Attachment B – Draft Structures Conditions POTL Comments (DOCX, 155 KB)