BACKGROUND

Kaipara District Council is considering the purchase of a 5.8 hectare block of land in Mangawhai Village for future use as public sporting and recreational facilities. The cost to purchase the land will be up to $5.9 million. The purchase will not impact rates, as we are proposing to use the current pool of reserve contributions to buy the land.  

Reserve contributions are funds collected from developers or property owners who are subdividing their land, divided into four catchment areas across the District. The use of reserve contributions is specifically allocated for the purchase or upgrade of open spaces. We can’t use these funds on other facilities like libraries, roading, waste etc.

Funds can only be used in the catchment area they were collected from, in this case Mangawhai. This means we can’t use these funds in other parts of the District.  

We have collected on average $2.7 million in reserve contributions each year for the last two years in Mangawhai. The balance of the reserve contributions fund for Mangawhai is currently around $8 million. At the current growth rate, we anticipate that we will recover the cost of this land purchase in just over two years – although projections show higher future growth than this current rate.  

In the event that the land is purchased, additional engagement with the community will be required to understand what sports and recreational facilities should be developed on the land. Once options have been developed, these would need to be included and budgeted for in Council’s Long Term Plan.      

ISSUE

Mangawhai is growing fast. To support our growing population, the Mangawhai Spatial Plan identifies a need for public access to sporting and recreational facilities to complement other facilities in the Mangawhai area.

Currently Kaipara District Council owns just one public recreation space in Mangawhai – the Mangawhai Community Park – which houses multiple functions, including the Historic Village, Mangawhai Museum, and MAZ.    

Finding flat, centrally located land is becoming increasingly difficult in Mangawhai, but we now have an opportunity to secure land for future public sporting and recreational facilities. 

To find out more, and to have your say complete the online form or drop into the Kaipara District Council office in Mangawhai to pick up a feedback form.

Feedback closes 5pm Monday 5 September.

Read the Reserve Contribution Policy

Read the Mangawhai Spatial Plan

Read the Kaipara Spaces and Places Plan

Read the latest independent Infometrics data on Mangawhai’s growth

Frequently Asked Questions