Rangitoopuni, Riverhead, Auckland

The land is of profound cultural and intergenerational significance. As whenua returned through settlement, it carries both responsibility and opportunity – to restore the mauri of the landscape while establishing a sustainable economic foundation for current and future generations.

From the outset, meaningful planning began with understanding the past. A Cultural Masterplan, anchored in the whakataukī Kia tuupato ki te remu o taku kahu – “Beware the hem of my cloak” – established the values of kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, rangatiratanga, auaha, and taurikuratanga as the foundation for every decision. Rather than sitting alongside the statutory framework, this cultural lens shaped the deliberate application of planning tools from inception through to consent.

A defining aspect of the project’s planning approach was the early and strategic identification of the appropriate statutory pathway. Progressed as a Listed Project under Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024, the proposal moved from concept design to consent approval within ten months – reflecting strong upfront planning, clarity of scope, and a highly coordinated multidisciplinary approach, while maintaining full assessment rigour.

Rangitoopuni will deliver a carefully master-planned community and re-cloaking of more than 220 hectares of pine plantation into indigenous forest, wetlands and riparian corridors. It exemplifies how statutory planning can operate as an enabling tool- aligning Treaty settlement intent, iwi leadership, and regulatory frameworks to deliver culturally grounded, environmentally restorative, and regionally significant outcomes.

And it is the hem of the cloak – extending protection, care, and opportunity to those who come next.

Click play to find out more and watch a short video about the project.