A neighbour who lives opposite Ngati Whatua Orakei's big Wakakura block near Devonport is worried about Ryman Healthcare's retirement village plans.
Petra Heemskerk, who lives on Ngataringa Rd, said she feared an intensive development and the effects on an already clogged Lake Rd between Takapuna and Devonport.
Last year, she sent out a flyer to residents along Ngataringa Rd, asking if they were aware that three- and four-storey apartment blocks could rise on the empty land.
Yesterday, she said she was relieved to know exactly who would be moving in after long-term speculation about the land.
"People have been fairly positive about a retirement village as opposed to social housing, obviously. I think the scale of any new development is the main issue," she said. "The issue is not the development of the site in itself. I think it is fair to say that most residents here are not opposed to the land being developed.
"The issue is intensive development and the phrase in the unitary plan that these sub-precincts are 'suitable for medium or higher density development'."
A Ryman spokesman said about 300 people would live on the site, once home to navy housing.
Ngati Whatua said it has not sold the land but was instead leasing to Ryman, which announced it had "secured" the Wakakura block.
The hapu paid $10 million for the 4.2ha waterfront site as part of its Treaty of Waitangi settlement.
The deal comes after the hapu's commercial arm, Whai Rawa, expressed an intention to develop housing for the elderly on the site on the corner of Lake Rd and Ngataringa Rd between Belmont and Devonport.
Wakakura issue
• 4.2ha Ngati Whatua Orakei block between Takapuna and Devonport
• Ryman Healthcare leasing it for a 150-year term
• Retirement village for about 300 people planned
• Government sold land to hapu for $10 million as part of Treaty settlement