Oruku Landing, again

The promoters of the on-again off-again Oruku Landing Hotel and Conference Centre in Whangārei have revived hopes that the project may continue.

It has been reported that Northland Development Corporation Ltd has applied for consent via the Fast-Track Approvals process, with funding being sourced from the government’s new Regional Infrastructure Fund. The Fast-Track Approvals Act is expected to be passed into law shortly. 

Whangarei Mayor, Vince Cocurullo, has said the $11 million the council had committed in conditional funding was no longer available. Given some councillors had previously supported ratepayer funding for the project, the full council needs to make a final declaration confirming no ratepayer funding will be provided for the Oruku landing project. 

Northern Advocate: Ōruku Landing hotel and conference centre in Whangārei hoping for fast-track consent  Here>>>

$100,000 Roadside Artwork

Questions are being asked about roading costs after information obtained by LETTERBOX under the Official Information Act reveals the Whangarei District Council (WDC) spent more than a hundred thousand dollars on the “archway” artwork in the middle of the Port Road Kioreroa Road roundabout. According to the Council’s roading department, 

“The total cost…is $104,605+GST. This cost includes design fees, fabrication, installation, foundations, lighting, and power supply. This work was required as part of a landscaping resource consent condition for the roundabout project.”

Putting it right - Undoing the wrongs of Nanaia Mahuta

Legislation has been introduced into Parliament to reinstate the right of local communities to have their say on Māori Wards.

The 40 or so local councils who introduced Māori Wards after Nanaia Mahuta removed the petition right, must either disestablish the Māori wards or hold a binding referendum at the time of next year’s local body elections (12 October).

A motion to disestablish Māori wards must be passed by the 6^th of September this year.

If a referendum is held, and a majority of electors vote “No" then their Māori ward(s) would be disestablished at the 2028 local body election.