Reserve in golf trade-off
Developers of a planned golf course in rural Horowhenua have been given permission to build on public reserve land, with the loss offset by better access to the rest of the reserve and nearby beach.
The revelation was made at the first day of a resource consent hearing for the proposed Douglas Links Golf Course yesterday.
The hearing was for commissioners to hear evidence about applications to Horizons Regional Council for environmental consents for a proposed 18-hole links course Xero cofounder Hamish Edwardswants to build adjacent to the hau River.
He told the hearing he named the proposed course as a tribute to his father, but reiterated the land was still verymuch hau.
He wanted the course to reflect the values of the land and for iwi and hapū to inform that reflection.
The course would have a caddie programme, with caddies able to talk about the history of the land and area, and Grenadier had a project under way to find out more about the cultural significance of the land.
Grenadier’s legal counsel, John Maassen told the hearing the Horowhenua District Council decided in October 2021 to grant some resource consents. That consent process was not publicly notified.
According to the council’s consent decision, which was provided to the hearing, parts of the 4th, 16th and 17th holes would be within the reserve.
The affected area is a small part of the reserve, not easily accessed by the public because of the presence of lupin and gorse, with the nearest public vehicle access 5.8 kilometres north at Hokio Beach.
Maassen said Grenadier had agreed to construct a public route to the beach.
The hearing commissioners focused on a few key issues yesterday:
Relationships and consultation with affected iwi and hapū; the potential for archaeological finds; and the value of the environment.
Former PGA Tour golfer Phillip Tataurangi (Kahungunu ki Rangitāne and Ngāti Kikopiri) did consultation for Grenadier on cultural values.
Ngāti Kikopiri’s marae is on the same road as the land the course would be built on.
Consultation had differed between hapū and iwi in the area, with the Covid-19 pandemic making things harder,
Tataurangi said. Much had been done with Ngāti Kikopiri as it was the closest to the proposed course, while work was being done with Muaūpoko on a memorandum of understanding. Plans for further engagement with Ngāti Tukorehe were on hold until after the consent process, he said. Robert Kuiti and Dennis Paku, both members of the Kikopiri marae committee, spoke about their engagement with Grenadier.
Kuiti said Ngāti Kikopiri made it clear it wanted open and collaborative dialogue involving all affected iwi and hapū. Paku said it was important for all iwi and hapū to unite through the process.
Many questions from commissioners focused on the proposed location of the 14th hole, near the mouth of the Ōhau river Landscape architect Frank Boffa said the entire proposed course area was of high natural quality, but the 14th hole was not in as good condition because of vehicle damage.
Good management could include removing trees and putting in other species elsewhere, as well as improving the sand dunes, which had been impacted by motorcycles and erosion.
Archaeologist Mary O’Keefe said data collected while working on the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway helped her put together amodel of what may be found on the proposed course land.
There would almost certainly be shell middens, as Māori would have likely travelled to the area to take advantage of the abundance of kai moana and flax, but middens were of little value because of how common they were.
She was, however, interested to know if there was evidence of vegetable gardens in the area. She had not found any along the Kāpiti and Horowhenua coast, making it almost the only coastal place in the country without it.
There were also records of people living at Tirotiro Whetū, a kainga near the Ōhau River, on a seasonal basis.
The hearing continues today with evidence from multiple iwi and hapū.
‘‘It was important for all iwi and hapū to unite through the process.’’