Developer in court today

Property developer Shannon Tawhiti will appear in court today.

A property developer accused of moving old houses on to a Hastings section without the required consent will appear in court today.

Shannon Tawhiti outraged Mahora residents in January when he allegedly relocated three buildings on to a Totara St property in the suburb without the required consent, in a move which also violated housing density rules.

The relocation raised the ire of residents on the street, who were further shocked when the council told them the houses may contain asbestos.

The Hastings District Council laid charges against Mr Tawhiti, alleging breaches of the Resource Management Act. The matter will be called in the Hastings District Court today.

The council initially issued an abatement notice requiring the removal of the Totara St houses, but later granted resource consent and dispensation from density rules.

It said in February it had investigated all home relocation work undertaken by Mr Tawhiti in the district and, as a result of that investigation, expected charges would be laid against him.

It also fined Mr Tawhiti's company $300 in October last year after he illegally moved an ex-state house on to a section in Joll Rd, Havelock North, which was later granted consent.

The developer also moved a house on to a property in Tarbet St, Flaxmere, last month, before removing it in a manner described by local residents as "miraculous".

Mr Tawhiti has previously said he had been involved in about 100 house relocations, with only the Joll Rd and Totara St developments running into consenting problems.

He has also said his property development work had enabled dozens of families in the district to move into affordable accommodation.