The final piece of a residential subdivision on a large expanse of historic, bush-clad land on Waiheke Island is being sold.
Auckland environmental businessman Rob Fenwick bought 360ha of land on the island 15 years ago. The entire block has a covenant placed on it to prevent mining forbluestone and was the first private land to be incorporated into the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park. Fenwick signed a deal with then Conservation Minister Sandra Lee in June to create a covenant which would ensure the land remains protected and creates a 3km public walkway from Awaawaroa Bay to a new marine reserve at Te Matuku Bay.
What distinguishes Te Matuku from Waiheke's other estuarine bays is its mosaic of coastal forest, saltwater wetland, giant mangroves and intertidal mudflats, and its rich marine and birdlife.
Fenwick, a former leader of the Progressive Greens, has created a 40ha residential subdivision on part of his island land and has sold most of the area. Only one piece remains. Fenwick, a founder and director of the Living Earth composting business, has the last of five plots of land up for sale and is asking $450,000 for the 8ha plot.
He has sold most of the 40ha privately.
The plot for sale runs down to the estuary at the head of Awaawaroa Bay and features an historic site where Auckland founding father Sir John Logan Campbell is thought to have built a cottage when mining for copper on the island.
