Plan adopted for growth of Kerikeri-Waipapa
Far North District Council has adopted Te Pātukurea – Kerikeri Waipapa Spatial Plan, setting a clear, long-term framework for coordinated urban expansion focused on existing centres and supported by infrastructure that is efficient, resilient, and more affordable.
The plan was formally adopted at an Extraordinary Meeting on 18 June 2025 and will help guide future growth and change in one of our district’s fastest-growing urban areas.
Kerikeri, Waipapa and the surrounding area, have seen significant population growth in recent years. In the absence of a clear plan, that growth has often led to fragmented development, high infrastructure costs, and limited housing options. Te Pātukurea responds to this by providing a strategic, evidence-based blueprint for growth over the next 30 years. It sets objectives for more resilient infrastructure, a diverse and affordable housing supply, better connected transport networks, and the protection of the natural environment, culture, and heritage. The plan is the result of extensive technical analysis, alongside engagement with mana whenua, local stakeholders, and the wider public. It represents a major milestone as the first spatial plan delivered under the council’s Far North 2100 planning framework.
During the Extraordinary Meeting, the council acknowledged feedback received during consultation in support of an alternative growth proposal led by a private developer. This proposal involves greenfield development to the northwest of Kerikeri. In response, the council has identified a Contingent Future Growth Area in the plan, which may be considered in the future if several conditions are met. These include progressing through appropriate statutory processes such as a District Plan change, and alignment with regional and national plans and policies, delivering flood mitigation and other infrastructure at no cost to the council, engaging with mana whenua to ensure cultural alignment and support, and ensuring alignment with community aspirations.
This approach ensures that the adopted plan remains focused and deliverable, while keeping the door open to future opportunities like the Contingent Future Growth Area.
A copy of the adopted plan is available here.