Linda Bryham and her family are devastated their farm with six homes is in the firing line of the proposed Northland Corridor. Photo / Michael Cunningham
A Northland family is devastated their farm and “forever home” passed down through generations will be sold to make room for the four-lane highway from Auckland to Whangārei.
Linda Bryham and her family are “in limbo” after being notified by NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) their 100ha farm with six family homes is within the preferred route of the Northland Corridor.
Bryham’s father and her now 90-year-old mum bought the Waipu dairy farm 60 years ago.
After her dad died, her mum kept farming for another 40 years, suggesting her three children and their children live on the land so they could run the farm together.
Bryham’s daughter now helps with the dairy operations and, like her grandfather, is breeding a good herd; her sister planted 5km of riverbank with native plants, and her brother helps with maintenance.
Bryham and her husband planted their orchard 15 years ago, they have established gardens, and a kahikatea forest where her father’s ashes are scattered.
They have an architecturally designed home they could never replace.
NZTA wants the lot.
“The highway is going through our farm; they want our whole farm with six homes on it,” she said.
“We’re all devastated.
“We don’t know what to do next. Where do we go?
“This was meant to be our forever home to pass on to our children.
“Our daughter thought it was her forever career milking her grandmother’s cows and running the family farm.”
In April, Transport Minister Chris Bishop revealed the earmarked Northland Corridor would go from Warkworth east of SH1, over the Brynderwyn Hills, then through to Whangārei.
In October, the Te Hana to Whangārei Investment Case was endorsed by the NZTA board.
This includes the preferred route for Te Hana to Port Marsden Highway, including the alternative to the Brynderwyn Hills, which is being prioritised.
Bryham and her family are among 489 landowners NZTA has contacted about potential property impacts and the next steps.
Bryham said her family met the geotech team in August, and there was another meeting on November 6.
“They said they wanted it for the four-lane highway and Waipu interchange.
“It’s not just ours, it’s about seven other dairy farms in Waipu.
“They want whole farms, so it means people lose their livelihoods as well as their properties.”
About 40 Northlanders attended the Waipu Residents and Ratepayers Association meeting on November 26.
Chairman Richard Cole said the mood of the meeting was mixed.
“Some people had just got letters, others were about to be visited, people were talking about what can I do?
“They were all very surprised and quite a few are upset, because ... their lives go on hold while someone decides when they’re going to take it.
“If you’re going to plan on doing something with your property, no one will buy it because it’s going to be bulldozed.”
Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper – whose Waipu property is “marginally affected” – said it was understandable why people were concerned.
“In some cases it’s people who have built their homes thinking they’ll stay forever.
“In other cases it’s the farm that’s been in the family for many generations.
“I definitely understand why people are concerned.
“I also understand the need for a four-lane highway. It’s an enabler for economic growth in Northland.”
Whangārei councillor Matthew Yovich said his 160ha family farm in Mata, which has been in the family more than 100 years, will be reduced by one quarter.
“The area they’re taking ... includes two houses, a workshop, wool shed, a couple of smaller sheds, and the family grapevines planted by my great grandfather.
“It doesn’t make any of us very happy but progress has to be made – it has to go somewhere.
“But they could narrow down the area they’re talking about and give us more information.”
An NZTA spokeswoman said the project team was now working to refine the preferred route further.
NZTA planned to lodge consents and designation of this section by mid-2026 and designation for the rest of the corridor by late 2026, she said.
This was part of the route protection stage, which ensured the necessary land would be secured for future construction and would give landowners more certainty.
“There are still many different places the final road may go within the preferred route,” the spokeswoman said.
“We are currently undertaking geotechnical and environmental investigations as well as design development and having ... conversations with landowners to help us refine the corridor further.”
To date, NZTA had met with over 90 landowners, and meetings will continue until mid-next year.
“Within these sessions landowners will be invited to discuss their individual requirements and share valuable insights with the project team.
“Landowners between Waipu and Whangārei will be contacted again early next year with further information to book in their individual sessions with the project team.”
The spokeswoman said once the land designation was confirmed, “we’ll seek to purchase land required closer to construction”.
“The Public Works Act governs this process.”
Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading, and social issues.