New Auckland housing project areas revealed

About 500ha of surplus Crown land had been identified across Auckland with development potential. Photo / Greg Bowker

Surplus Crown land at Manukau, Avondale, Massey East and Hobsonville are set to be offered up to private development companies.

Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith made the announcement yesterday on a whirlwind "magical bus tour" of Auckland housing projects.

It is the latest round in the Government's fight to control soaring Auckland property prices and help struggling house hunters into their first home.

Dr Smith also announced that a Tamaki-style intensification project could see 200 state homes removed or demolished at Three Kings to make way for high-density housing, subject to stormwater issues being addressed.

He said the state homes were "poor utilisation" of land and the housing stock could potentially be trebled.

"It's something well into the future ... and we'd need a high level of community engagement."

The four surplus Crown-owned land parcels unveiled yesterday collectively total 30ha, with a mix of 600 high-density terraced housing, apartments and standalone homes envisaged on the land.

Three of the sites are currently owned by the New Zealand Transport Agency and one is vacant land formerly acquired by the Education Ministry for a new high school that is no longer needed.

About 500ha of surplus Crown land had been identified across Auckland with development potential.

Dr Smith would not reveal the location of the other 470ha, as checks on infrastructure and zoning were yet to be completed.

The most advanced of the four land parcels is a 9.5ha site in Massey East where 200 homes could be built, which had been cleared for purchase from the Education Ministry.

Dr Smith hoped to sign a development contract by October and to have the first homes completed by late next year.

The other three NZTA-owned sites could accommodate about 400 homes.

A 1.4ha site at Wiri Station Rd, Manukau could see 60 terraced houses built, a 0.4ha site near Pak'nSave in New North Rd, Avondale could see 60 high-density houses built, and an 18ha site at Brigham Creek Rd, Hobsonville, could accommodate up to 280 homes.