Sad tale in Titahi Bay

I have lived happily in Titahi Bay for the past five years.

I bought my house based on its character and its outlook across the greater part of the Bay. Also it was one of six houses built in 1954 and sold privately to families who pretty much have lived in the area since then.

Unfortunately last year the occupant next door died, and the property fell into the hands of a developer.

First the section was subdivided.

Next the new owner went around the neighbouring houses wishing to fully fence the section and requested that those neighbours contribute to the cost.

I rejected that because I believed the hedge between the properties constituted an adequate fence and being asked to front up with $3500 seemed a bit extreme. I was issued a fencing notice by the owner, which I countered with a cross notice.

He took us to the disputes tribunal.

The adjudicator decided in my favour, ruling that the hedge was an adequate fence and that a proposed fence also did not fit into the surroundings.

Imagine my surprise when a few months later, while fences were being built on the neighbouring properties, our hedge was removed to make way for a fence.

I don’t have to pay for half of the fence, but when I questioned the new owner as to why the hedge had been removed, he responded that he did not agree with the adjudicator’s decision from the disputes tribunal.

He said the adjudicator had not taken everything into consideration and was inexperienced, and as far as he was concerned he was entitled to do what he wanted, regardless of the outcome of the dispute.

The upshot is that I have a new fence. I also have three two-storey ‘‘townhouses’’ (boxes) under construction that look directly over into our property and have effectively diminished our once beautiful vista.

Obviously I can do nothing about this so-called progress, but grin and bear it, along with the knowledge that our city council gave resource agreement to have these boxes built.