New Chum Beach challenge at the High Court.
Preserve New Chum for Everyone (PNC4E) takes a case to the High Court in Auckland this week, 26 -28 June, contest an Interim Decision of the Environment Court for changes to the Proposed Thames Coromandel District Plan that would include 25 house sites on the land behind New Chum / Wainuiototo.
Chairperson for PNC4E, John Drummond, said:
“New Chum / Wainuiototo is a world class wilderness beach on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. It is an iconic, pristine beach that is free from development. Although the headland at the north end of the beach was purchased by community groups to protect it from development in 2022, the battle to protect the land behind the middle of the beach continues.”
“New Chum / Wainuiototo has outstanding Natural Character values, significant Biodiversity values, outstanding Landscapes and Seascapes, significant values for Maori and important cultural and archaeological values. Most of these values are dependent on there being no houses close to or overlooking June the beach.”
“Since 2013, PNC4E has participated at every stage of the Proposed District Plan process on this issue from our first submission, appearances at the local hearings, consideration of the decision, appeals, six years of drawn-out mediations, appearances at two separate Environment Court hearings, consideration of the decisions, and in January of this year an appeal and cross-appeal to the High Court that opposes the recent Interim Decision.”
“We engaged experts in Planning, Landscape, Ecology, Matāuranga Māori, and Law to speak for us at the two Environment Court hearings as well as during the mediations.”
“It is an expensive and time-consuming exercise to take a case to the High Court. PNC4E have a givealittle page(https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/save-new-chum-beach or www.preservenewchum.org.nz) for those who wish to join the community team, to help pay our legal costs and keep houses away from New Chum / Wainuiototo.”
“We are determined that this very beautiful and important place will never be subdivided.” Mr Drummond concluded.
Chairperson PNC4E
New Chum Beach is in the Wainuiototo Bay on the northeast coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, near Whangapoua. The hills behind the one-kilometre white-sand beach are undeveloped and covered in native bush. This protected stretch of untouched land has no buildings, no roads, no infrastructure or camping - it is a jewel in New Zealand's coastal crown. It is ranked as one of the top 20 beaches in the world by Britain's The Observer and highly rated by Lonely Planet.
Preserve New Chum For Everyone (PNC4E) celebrated a big victory in December 2021 to preserve New Chum, with their public-backed charity buying the northern headland of New Chum Beach for $2.15m, an area of 30 hectares. The sale of the 30ha piece of land in Wainuiototo Bay to the New Zealand Coastal Trust in 2022 means the area will be protected from development. This had been a long-running battle (since 2010). The current High Court appeal is to secure land behind the beach which is under threat of sub-division. The impact of this would bring houses, people, pets and recreational vehicles destroying the remoteness, pristine environment and endangered wildlife of this unique ‘taonga’.
The working committee of six people taking their appeal to the High Court represents about 200 active supporters. They encourage you to go to the Give A little Page and Website. They need your support.
Caption: New Chum Beach.