Annette Taylor: Tairua marina project divides community

Opinion

Pinned to the wall in Tairua's Out of the Blue cafe is a child's drawing. In bold colours it depicts the perceived effects of a proposed marina in the town.

A smiling sun, fish, children playing, turns into dead fish, no kids and a frowning sun. Across the top is written No Marina Please.

Auckland-based developers want to build a 150-berth marina at Paku Bay, in the town's harbour. The Environment Court is considering the more than 1000 public submissions, which are evenly split on the issue.

The proposal has created huge debate in the small town, whose permanent population is about 1500.

Julie Johnson, who has worked at the cafe for four years, was in two minds about the proposal for some time.

"But the more often I went around the bay and saw the kids playing, the more sure I was it is wrong for this place."

Everyone at the cafe is dead against the marina, although she's not sure about new chef David.

"We can work on him."

Johnson, an American, moved to New Zealand from Oregon to raise her granddaughter here.

"Tairua has a special quality. It's why I moved here. It's a great place to grow up in."

Tina Larsen served on the town's community board for six years. She agrees Tairua is a lovely community and a great place to live, but believes the marina will bring growth and jobs.

Also pro-marina is real estate agent Keith McLaughlin, who says it will make the town more viable.

Tairua "is just big enough now to make things work ... but for many, the reality is it's hard to make a decent living".

McLaughlin runs a bed-and-breakfast at his home on landmark Paku Hill, which has spectacular views of the harbour. At night he can hear kiwi calling.

"We bought this section 20 years ago. The area where they want to put the marina used to be quite sandy then. Now it's just a muddy backwater, not attractive at all."

He's a bit frustrated at those who oppose the plan.

"People are into maintaining the status quo. They say how nice Tairua is, and they want it to stay that way. This just doesn't happen. Things progress and change."

McLaughlin says much of the opposition is driven by envy.

"People have a go at Aucklanders, saying, 'Why do we want them here, flaunting their wealth and flash boats'.

"Fact is, people come here from all over and help to make it a destination, rather than just a little beach settlement."

Gloria Giles, who moved from Auckland a few years ago, feels a little besieged in her hardware shop. All the other workers and husband Kevin are pro-marina, so "I'm a bit outnumbered".

The marina idea has been around for about 20 or 30 years, when they first began developing Paku Hill, she says. Giles is not anti-marina, but objects to its siting.

"This is where kids learn to swim, or kayak. It's a place for families, not a commercial venture, using public land."

There are, she says, some heated conversations at morning tea, and customers will razz her.

"I don't mind fun being poked at me. We can agree to differ."

Giles says she has heard unpleasant comments from both sides of the argument.

"Signs have been taken down, there was some graffiti - in the end, it's all about democracy. We've been able to have our say. Whatever the decision, the town will move on."

While she is talking to me, store manager Pete heckles loudly from downstairs about "negative types who are anti-progress".

Pete, a keen fisherman, has lived most of his life in Tairua, and says the marina must go ahead. He stops to serve a customer who is wide-eyed at the pro-marina sentiment.

"You can't be serious," she says, and sides with Gloria.

In the copy centre the customers all vote against the marina. One woman talks earnestly about the pipi bed, which she says is unequalled.

Owner Krissy Menheere says she's photocopied a lot of the submissions on the proposal.

"Many feel this has divided the town. I don't think so. It's about trying to find unity within diversity."

The court's decision is expected any time. Tairua is holding its breath.

I drive by the disputed bay. The tide is out and a heron and some oystercatchers are searching for food on the mudflats. It is very peaceful ...

* Annette Taylor contributes occasionally to Stevenson's Country.