Ombudsman investigating MP Shane Reti's complaint against Whangārei District Council

Dr Shane Reti complained to the Ombudsman about the Whangārei District Council redacting and withholding information. Photo / Tania Whyte

The Ombudsman is investigating a complaint that the Whangārei District Council redacted and withheld information relating to a controversial state housing development.

In October Whangārei MP Dr Shane Reti lodged two complaints with Ombudsman Peter Boshier about the council's decision to release certain information about plans by Housing New Zealand to build state houses on a section of Puriri Park.

He put in an official information request.

Housing NZ last week released draft plans to build 37 mostly double-storey houses on 32,730sq m of public park— a move that has angered residents living on Puriri Park Rd who say it will lead to a loss of a green space, "unsavoury" behaviour and the devaluation of their properties.

Reti had requested WDC to provide details of any communication to, from or associated with (or) in respect of its disposals process, including historical title and the future use of land at Puriri Park.

In his complaint to the Ombudsman, Reti said WDC did not provide emails from 2014 and 2015 that showed it was actively interested in acquiring the piece of land on which the state houses would be built.

The Whangārei MP said that bit of information was contained in a separate Official Information Act (OIA) request on a similar issue he forwarded to Housing NZ.

Reti said the other information WDC did not supply him concerned a telephone voice mail from a council employee to Land Information New Zealand.

He said that information came to his attention through a Housing NZ email.

In a letter to Reti, the Ombudsman's office confirmed it was investigating his complaint.

"I have written to the chief executive of the council to commence the investigation. I have asked for the relevant information and the reasons for the decision," senior investigator Victor Lee said.

Housing NZ expects to lodge a resource consent application with the Whangārei District Council in April, and start earthworks in spring, with construction early next year and the new homes ready in early to mid-2021.