Residents Pursue Legal Action Against Auckland Council Over Marlowe Mews Land Dispute

Residents in Blockhouse Bay are taking legal action against Auckland Council over a land dispute involving a proposed development by Kāinga Ora. The state landlord is reapplying for permission to build a 68-unit complex on land originally gifted for pensioners, sparking strong opposition from local residents.

After withdrawing their initial application last August due to community backlash, Kāinga Ora has now submitted a new application for resource consent. Despite making some changes to the plans, neighbors remain unsatisfied, arguing that the modifications are minimal and fail to address community concerns.

One of the main issues raised by residents is the lack of pensioner housing in the development project. The land in question was donated to Auckland Council in the 1970s with the condition that it provide housing for older citizens. However, Kāinga Ora claims they are not obligated to use the land for pensioner housing.

Community leader Benji Nathan and residents are seeking legal advice to return the gifted land back to pensioners, as they believe there was an error in the sales procedures when the land was transferred to Kāinga Ora in the early 2000s.

Despite the ongoing dispute, Kāinga Ora is moving forward with their consent application, stating that the proposed homes will provide much-needed housing for people on the waiting list for public housing in the area. Auckland Council is currently assessing the legal position and will provide a response in due course.