Housing New Zealand plan meets video protest in Auckland

Proposal for 14 new houses in quiet no-exit street near Orakei Basin upsets neighbours.

Housing NZ Corporation has released an image of its new Tahapa development in Meadowbank.

The eight-unit project designed by Moller Architects will be developed at 78-82 Tahapa Cres where three dwellings now stand.

Meanwhile, Housing NZ plans to release the first images of a larger, more controversial scheme to people in the area next week.

But upset neighbours have made a video to display their dissatisfaction with the plans to build 14 residences where there are now only four.

Patrick Dougherty, Housing NZ's new projects manager, said two-level houses would have front yards where he said children could play safely.

The places are to be built on a site of about a quarter hectare near the Orakei Basin, between Puroto St and Purewa Rd.

The Tahapa Crescent scheme by Housing NZ where eight units are to be built

Dougherty said the development was an attempt to address Auckland's social housing shortage.

Hulena Architects had designed the high-quality new residences for the site, which would be accessed from both Puroto St and Purewa Rd, he said.

"On the Puroto side we will be looking to enhance the street frontage of our land with three four-bedroom family homes. The proposed Puroto-side development will also feature a three-bedroom home and three two-bedroom units to the rear of the site," he said.

"All our homes will feature safe play areas for children, as per our commitment to driveway safety. The three- and four-bedroom homes will all have a garage and off-street park; the units one off-street park each. We anticipate lodging for consent for this site within the next couple of weeks."

Housing NZ had also worked closely with the local community.

"For Puroto/Purewa, in addition to presenting to the Orakei Local Board and Simon O'Connor MP, we provided an update to all residents of Puroto St and direct neighbours to the site on Purewa before Christmas.

"This update advised of the architect we're using and included details of the proposed number and typology of dwellings and a likely timeframe for work to start," Dougherty said.

"We also used this correspondence to invite residents to get in touch with us so we could meet individually to discuss the plans in more detail.

"We have since provided a commitment to the residents group, through Mr [Grant] Dickson, that we will hold a drop-in session for all residents once we have settled on a design that will be submitted for consent application."

Upset Meadowbank residents have formed an action group to oppose the scheme. Dickson is the chairman of the new Puroto Purewa Manapau Residents Group which he said was attempting to engage with Housing NZ over its plans.

Dickson fronts a video which is attempting to garner support and he says the residences are planned for the quiet no-exit Puroto St which will be "seriously challenged" by the scheme where older stand-alone state houses now stand on big sections.

"We are having the same problem as the Mt Albert Community," Dickson said, comparing his group to the Asquith Community Group which is challenging plans for 33 Asquith Ave in Mt Albert where 30 terraced units now stand.

The Mt Albert and Meadowbank sites have Special Housing Area status to fast-track planning and development.

But Dickson said that status had removed all rights from the community and the new state houses would be out of character with the neighbourhood.

"If it was eight units, then it would work. The tenants could have turning circles, off-street parking, outdoor areas and it would be a lot safer. No one is trying to stop it but for the tenants' and neighbours' sakes, HNZ need to modify and consult."

Meadowbank fight

• 4 state houses on 2600sq m site are to go.
• 14 new places planned.
• Neighbours objecting.
• Housing NZ defends plans.
• New images of houses released.
• Neighbours protest video.