Developer felled trees, didn't build houses, now property is up for sale

A property in central Kerikeri where 20 hectares of trees were felled last year has been put up for sale by the developer before a single home has been built.

The property - bordered by the town centre, Kerikeri River and the Heritage Bypass - was touted as the last, large undeveloped parcel of residential-zoned land in central Kerikeri when it was first put on the market in 2021.

At that time most of the land was covered in mature gum and redwood trees, and had been owned by the Bing family for more than 60 years.

It was sold to Matakana company Turnstone Holdings for an undisclosed sum. Turnstone later went to court to enforce the sale.

In 2025 almost all the trees were felled, bar a few along the riverside and those within the council reserve at Fairy Pools.

Turnstone had planned a "reasonably intensive" development with up to 300 homes, a retirement complex, a mixed-used commercial area bordering the CBD, and a café by the river.

The company subdivided the land into five "super lots" in preparation for staged development.

However, the entire property has now been listed for sale by Bayleys Realty.

Chris Blair, of the company's Warkworth office, said sale would be by negotiation, with buyers able to purchase any of the five lots individually or the entire property.

He referred questions about why the developer had put the property up for sale, with no progress beyond the removal of the trees, to the current owner.

RNZ has contacted Turnstone's owner, developer Jamie Peters, but has yet to receive a response.

The land, which totals 23.2ha, is split into a commercial mixed-use zone along Kerikeri Road and a residential zone closer to the river.

Local views were divided when plans to fell the gums first became public in 2022, with some lamenting the loss of the town's arboreal backdrop or concerned about the effects on the town's microclimate.

Others, however, said the 90-year-old gums were a fire hazard, and developing the land, if done well, would enhance the town centre, provide much-needed housing, and improve access to the river.

Felling was halted in 2024 while the Department of Conservation checked the area for kiwi, but none were found.

There was also controversy last year when a council-owned road traversing the property was closed indefinitely, limiting public access to a swimming spot at Fairy Pools Reserve.

The Far North District Council said Fairy Pools Lane had been closed for safety reasons until tree felling and earthworks were complete.

At least two burn-offs at the property last year required intervention from Fire and Emergency (FENZ).

Responding to an Official Information Act request, FENZ said the December 2025 fire took three days and cost $28,870 to put out.

The bulk of that, $23,697, was spent on helicopters.

Felling of the trees was a permitted activity so did not require council consent.

Since a law change in 2012, there had been no blanket protection of trees in urban New Zealand, except in areas subject to conservation plans.