The largest subdivision in ongoing Horowhenua history

Work on the largest subdivision in Horowhenua history has started with the prime minister collecting the first piece of land.

Manawhenua Muaūpoko welcomed manuhiri, or guest, Jacinda Ardern and Ngāti Tukorehe at the site of the Tara-Ika subdivision on Thursday. The $ 38 million subdivision is expected to help ease demand for housing in the growing district, which is experiencing an unprecedented population boom.

About 2,500 homes, starting with affordable 250-square-meter sections, will be built on the 420-hectare block of land on Levin’s southeastern boundary, with complementary parks, preserves, a local shopping center and an elementary school, said the Mayor of Horowhenua. , Bernie Wanden.

The district’s population jumped from about 30,000 constant people to about 35,000 between 2016 and 2019, and it was expected to grow by another 5,000 people in the coming years, he said.

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Its water and sewer infrastructure will be connected to Levin’s existing infrastructure, and new stormwater retention areas will be built alongside roads, roundabouts and a shared road.

By 2041, Wanden said the district’s population could reach 62,000, based on growth predictions.

“It is estimated that we will need up to 400 new homes a year to meet the demand for housing.

“Tara-Ika will help us meet part of the demand, and the rest will be distributed in the growth areas of the district.”

One of Tara-Ika’s owners, Brendan McDonnell, told the crowd of about 100 gathered to usher in the development that it would not have been possible without the support of the community.

“My family would also like to wholeheartedly thank Muaūpoko for gifting the development with the Tara-Ika name and his blessing of this land.”

The development was to be called Gladstone Green, but Tara-Ika was favored, recognizing Muaūpoko as manawhenua.

Di Rump, representative of Muaūpoko, acknowledged that the iwi got the name in honor of their tīpuna who settled in the region more than 1000 years ago.

“It reflects the fact that we are here today at the foot of our taonga, Tara, and we honor our long ancient history with our attachment to this land.”

An ahi kā, or burning fire of occupation, was lit at the end of the pōwhiri to indicate manawhenua’s connection to the land and its blessing of development.

McDonnell said that without the support of the government, the Horowhenua District Council and the local iwi, “this land would never have a shovel in the ground.”

Two-thirds of the project will be financed by loans and grants, and up to $ 25 million will be financed through Crown Infrastructure Partners, a Crown-owned company that encourages housing development. The development will employ up to 280 people.

Wanden said that with government support “overnight it went from a 20-year project to one that will take five years to complete.”

The council’s executive director, David Clapperton, said mechanisms to fund all development would be considered next year in the Long-Term Plan process “so it doesn’t fall on the taxpayers.”

Clapperton said the Horowhenua Alliance would deliver the first phase of the project.

Work would begin on a council road reservation on Friday and increase in 2021 when the completed route for Ōtaki north of the Levin Highway is confirmed.

“We are working together with the Waka Kotahi NZ Transportation Agency as it prepares to build the Queen St-SH57 roundabout, and together we will build another one at the Tararua Rd-SH57 intersection.”

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