Kaitāia Warehouse demolition challenged as petition handed to mayor

The bid to stop old Warehouse demolition grows. Photo / Yolisa Tswanya

Far North Mayor Moko Tepania has received a petition urging the council to rethink its plans to demolish the old Warehouse building in Kaitaia, as locals push for transparency and a chance to shape the site’s future.

The petition was handed over by Kaitāia Business Association (KBA) chairman, Josh Kirby, following his deputation at a recent council meeting.

Kirby stood on behalf of those in the town opposed to the plans for the site.

In October, the Far North District Council (FNDC) granted the Aupōuri Ngāti Kahu Te Rarawa Trust (ANT) the first right of refusal to purchase part of the Matthews Ave property, giving the trust six months to negotiate a sale.

The trust had put forward a proposal to turn part of the land into a development featuring social housing, private apartments, community services and commercial space.

In September, the FNDC announced that it had decided, during public exclusion, to demolish the building.

Council argued that costs to refurbish it far outweighed the demolition costs.

Following the news, the community, with the help of former FNDC councillor Mate Radich and the KBA started a bid to stop the demolition and pause any further action related to the site.

“Our focus is to ensure that the community is included and given the opportunity to provide feedback before irreversible decisions are made. Support for this petition came from a broad cross-section of the community, people who hold different hopes for the site, research was consistent, the community wanted to be included.”

He said that while they understood the financial difference in refurbishing the building versus demolition, there was a wider opportunity cost.

“A pause does not prevent progress. It does not rule out any proposal past, present, or future. It simply ensures that commercially led options, community-driven proposals, and long-term economic considerations are assessed together with transparency and fairness … Taking the time to engage with the Kaitāia community on its future is not only reasonable, but also responsible.”

Kirby said prior to the council’s decisions, he had previously been in touch with members of the council.

“The opportunity has been presented to the council to ask for feedback and to offer ideas and thoughts, but we haven’t been included, and we think that’s a shame. We’d like the council to reconsider that and ask the community.”

Councillors were given the opportunity to ask any questions and councillor Davina Smoulders asked if Kirby believed the matter was of high priority.

“We believe so. Our community feels that way too. We feel it’s an important site. It sits in the heart of Kaitāia. Yes, it’s been empty for a long time, but it is an important strategic spot, and we feel that the impact of whatever goes into that space will impact the community,” Kirby said.

Tepania received the petition and said the council will be “held to account and [I] will be pursuing the petition”.

“We will follow up directly with you on this. There are legal obligations that we have from our resolutions that have been made though, but it will be taken into consideration by this council.”