1 July 2021
Matthew Hooton
[FYI request #15644 email]
Dear Mr Hooton
Thank you for your email of 2 June 2021 to Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities
requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
The purpose of this OIA is to establish what if any consideration Kāinga Ora gave to
proposals to protect the Macrocarpa on land you own on the corner of Great North
Road and Ash Street in Avondale, Auckland.
Specifically, I seek information on:
1) all representations Kāinga Ora received from Mana Rākau, Steve Abel, Gael
Badlock, Mary McMullin, Margaret Stanley or others concerned to protect the
Macrocarpa, including proposals allowing the Macrocarpa to remain on the site;
2) all internal analysis Kāinga Ora carried out (without or without the help of outside
consultants) on these or any other proposals to allow the Macrocarpa to remain on
the site;
3) all representations Kāinga Ora received from other parties in support of the
Macrocarpa being removed from the site;
4) all communications Kāinga Ora had with Mana Whenua on this matter, including
what views Mana Whenua expressed to Kāinga Ora, and how these were
considered; and
5) all communications Kāinga Ora had with the local MP on this matter, or List MPs
interested in the matter, including what views those MP expressed to Kāinga Ora,
and how these were considered.
I have discussed your request with the relevant staff in Kāinga Ora. I am advised that the
large trees along Ash Street as far as the intersection with Great North Road in Avondale are
not on land owned by Kāinga Ora.
As Kāinga Ora does not own the land, it has not engaged with the groups referred to in your
request about the future of the macrocarpa trees, and has no role in the decision as to
whether the trees are retained. I am therefore declining all parts of your request under
section 18(g) of the Act,
‘
as the information requested is not held by the department or Minister of the Crown
or organisation…and the person dealing with the request has no grounds for
believing that the information is either held by another department or Minister of the
Crown or organisation, or by a local authority.’
Ockham Residential, which is building the Ahora Development consisting of 117 apartments,
reached an agreement with the Tree Council in February 2021. Information on the
development is available on their website at https://www.ockham.co.nz/ockham-
stories/aroha-the-bigger-picture-our-statement-on/?locale=en.
The Kāinga Ora development bordering Ockham’s Ahora Development is known as
Highbury Triangle. There are two large pohutakawa and an oak tree on the Kāinga Ora-
owned land which will be retained. Kāinga Ora also intends to have a range of native and
exotic plants planted throughout its Highbury Triangle development.
Highbury Triangle will consist of five buildings that together will provide 158 one-bedroom
and 78 two-bedroom apartments. More information about Highbury Triangle is available on
our website at: https://kaingaora.govt.nz/developments-and-programmes/what-were-
building/small-to-medium-scale-developments/community-lane-and-great-north-road-
highbury-triangle/.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of my decision to
decline your request, in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The relevant details can be
found on the Ombudsman’s website at: www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
by calling 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Rachel Kelly
Manager Government Relations
