Waitarere Beach population could double as land rezoned residential

Waitarere Beach resident Sue Sinclair took Fern and Shay for a walk. Sinclair was born at the beach.

A long-time Waitarere Beach local hopes the beach retains its charm as new plans reveal the population of the sleepy seaside town could soon double.

Sue Sinclair remembers a time where everyone knew your name and animals and children could roam the streets before being sent home at dusk.

Her parents moved from Wellington more than 50 years ago when it was a splattering of baches and homes. She was born at the beach.

"We used to ride ponies everywhere," she said.

Fern, Sue Sinclair and Shay at Waitarere Beach.

"I always hoped the beach wouldn't get too posh. I hope it retains its character."

The family still walk a pony called Fern and a dog called Shay, while her son Luca had a sheep called Ray and a kuni kuni pig, too. It was not uncommon to see goats roaming the streets.

But the times, they are a'changing. If the Horowhenua property market was hot, then Waitarere Beach was on the sun.

There was an insatiable thirst for beach property. There were few houses on the market at the beach, and those that were sold quickly.

The latest census figures in 2018 showed there were 801 dwellings at Waiterere Beach. Of those, 339 were fully occupied and 462 were holiday homes.

Horowhenua District Council officers had been working on a Waitarere Beach Master Plan for more than two years, recognising the need to future-proof development as the entire region experiences a housing shortage.

Australian Alf Dabrowski takes in the beach air. He has is one of a growing number of people making Waiterere Beach their home.

This week it was revealed more than 100ha of land neighbouring the existing township could soon be rezoned as residential, opening the way for 700 new houses.

The plan sets out the blueprint for future development at the beach included roading connections, walkways and cycleways, housing density, and public spaces and parks and reserves.

HDC strategic planner Katrina Gray said it was about planning and managing for long term growth over the next 20 years. It was important that any future town development was carefully planned and integrated.

"It's not going to happen overnight, of course. Change will happen slowly."

Gray said every effort was being made to ensure any plans were in keeping with beach aesthetics.

Sue Sinclair, Fern and Shay at Waiterere Beach.

Most section sizes would be set around 800sq m, with a smaller number at 400m2, to mirror the existing township.

The area tagged for growth area was located in the southeast of the settlement between Waitarere Beach Rd and Hydrabad Drive. The land was currently was made up of multiple lot of various sizes with multiple private owners.

Council officers had engaged with both Ngāti Huia and Muaūpoko Tribal Authority throughout the planning process. Iwi authorities were formally notified of the plan change, ahead of public notification.

Iwi had highlighted the Waiarawa Stream and the need to protect any development from affecting its mauri and any future gathering of kai from the area.