May 26, 2020
Road upgraded under cover of COVID crisis
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Northland iwi Patuharakeke is concerned the owners of a 4-kilometre strip alongside Whangarei Harbour may have breached COVID-19 lockdown rules to improve access to the property.
Dr Mere Kepa, who lives at Takahiwai, says during Level 4 a farm track was upgraded into a fully formed road.
She says it was done without consultation with locals or tangata whenua and seemingly without a resource consent.
"The Fraser company excavated the road during alert level 4 and that meant they left their bubble, travelled to the property for sale and excavated the so-called farm track into a road, so we are unsure whether the COVID-19 breaches have been prosecuted. We know nothing," Dr Kepa says.
Residents are concerned the development will lead to an increase in traffic through the small community
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