Protect Stockade Hill Views Appeal

As a result of the High Court appeal decision, that ‘generic’ submissions were “in scope”, the HRRA is unable to progress with its appeal to the Environment Court.

The usual appeal provisions of the Resource Management Act 1991 do not apply to the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan. Instead, limited rights of appeal against the council’s decisions are available to the Environment Court and High Court, as provided by sections 156-158 of the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Amendment Act 2013. This amending legislation progressed through Parliament under urgency and was passed by the National led coalition government with 63 votes and 57 against.

As there are no further legal avenues available to the HRRA, future action is centred on influencing Auckland Council via the “Court of Public Opinion. HRRA Chair Gayleen Mackereth forcefully presented the Protect Stockade Hill Views petition to Auckland Council Governing Body on the 23 February 2017.

The petition signed by 6,712 citizens from the Howick community and beyond, called on the Mayor and Councillors to protect the iconic views from Stockade Hill and Crawford Reserve from being blocked by much taller buildings that are now allowed under the unitary plan.

As follow up, a HRRA Deputation was presented to the Howick Local Board calling on their active support and for them to press the Auckland Councillors to listen to the 6,712 citizens from Howick.

Thank you all for your generous support and we extend a special thank you to the Howick and Pakuranga Times for their fantastic effort to help Protect Stockade Hill views for everyone to enjoy.

We shall keep fighting.