Te Arai is situated on the East Coast of New Zealand approximately 110km from Auckland City. It offers un-crowded surf breaks, great fishing and an untouched landscape. The area provides for many an escape from city life. Urbanizing Te Arai would replicate the very thing that the area offers respite from.

There are numerous reasons against the development. The area is home to eight native birds, five of which are endangered, one of the birds nesting in the area is the New Zealand fairy tern which is New Zealand’s rarest bird. There are only 35-40 fairy tern left in New Zealand. Development in the area will likely lead to their extinction and deal a fatal blow to yet another piece of New Zealand’s native wildlife. Native breeding birds in the area include the NZ fairy tern, Northern NZ dotterel, oystercatcher, pied stilts, banded dotterel, spur winged plover, caspian tern, and the white fronted tern. Other birds inhabiting the area include the pied oystercatcher, wrybill, turnstone, lesser knot and the bar-tailed godwit.

The NZ fairy tern and Northern NZ dotterel are both critically threatened with extinction. Development at Te Arai would fatally disrupt the birds natural habitat. The New Zealand dotterel nest from Mangawhai to Eyres Point, the proposed development runs directly through their natural environment, it would turn their habitat into an urban city. If this development goes ahead extinction for these birds will be inevitable.

Development at Te Arai will inevitably introduce dogs, cats and other predatory animals. Even with the best intentions it would be impossible to stop a rogue dog or cat from attacking the native birdlife. It would only take one ‘accident’ to push the endangered native birds in the area to the brink of extinction. Human activity would also introduce trail bikes, quad bikes and night time events (parties, bonfires etc) As we have found on other East Coast beaches rules inhibiting these activities would be impossible to enforce. This development would bring thousands of people to Te Arai. Reports commissioned by the developers have been widely criticized as "inaccurate and misleading". The Department of Conservation has warned of dire consequences for these birds if development is allowed and described the area as being “…clearly an area of outstanding significance for shorebirds” Read the Department of Conservation report for more information

The area is also home to the threatened auckland gecko as well as native plants and fragile wetlands. Similar beaches in the area are home to several lizard and spider species native to New Zealand. Te Arai is a large regenerating eco-system with high ecological and scenic value.

In May 2008 Rodney District Council released their evaluation of the report commisioned by the developers concerning wildlife at Te Arai Beach. The report was labeled "inacurrate and misleading" Read it here

Te Arai is the last untouched ocean beach in the region. Current zoning states it must remain this way. The developers have applied for a Private Plan change which means they don't just apply for resource consent but apply to change the District Plan to suit their development. Rodney District Council have already noted that “Te Arai is the last untouched large ocean beach in the region” and its “remote" and "non-urban” character should be protected. Nearly every bit of coastline from Auckland to Whangarei has been developed, Te Arai remains untouched!

There are literally hundreds of coastal properties for sale within 45mins drive north and south of Te Arai with more being planned, this includes 41 houses at Bream Tail, 45 lots at Langs Beach, 230 houses on the Waipu River and 350 houses on the Ngunguru Spit, the list could go on and on. There is no housing shortage, the proposed development at Te Arai is driven solely by profit for private developers which will be gained at the expense of an irreplaceable piece of New Zealand Coastline. There is however a severe shortage of untouched beaches in the area, Te Arai being the only one.

Te Arai beach provides so many people with a place to go to truly submerse themselves in nature, either surfing, fishing, walking, or swimming, it is truly the last ocean beach in the area a person can go to be in natural surroundings. Once it is urbanized it will be gone forever. It is time for the people who  quietly and respectfully enjoy the last unspoiled beaches of New Zealand to speak up and have their say.

The desired outcome is that the government buys back the land, including Te Arai, Eyres Point and Forestry and turns it into a much needed regional park for all New Zealanders to enjoy. This outcome is quite possible, unfortunately with development potential the suggested land value by the developers is high. If the proposal gets rejected I am sure the developers would gladly sell it back to the government for a reasonable price. It is for this reason that it is so important we make our voices heard and stop this development. Rodney District Council and the Central government need to know how the public feel about this issue.

When I am out surfing at Te Arai I can recall all the places I have spent summers at over the years and how much these places have changed. I remember how surfing at Langs Beach, Ding Bay, Waipu River Mouth, and numerous other places along the coast was as pure as surfing could get, you were totally surrounded by nature, no cars, no buildings, bright lights, or hotels. And how, in a short 10-15 years areas like these have diminished and been turned into suburbs to be occupied for a few weeks every year. The experience of being submersed in natural surroundings cannot be reproduced or enhanced by manmade structures, nor can it be replaced as a vital part of human growth and development. It makes me wonder, where will my children go for inspiration? To enjoy the wonders of wild New Zealand beaches. Where will they go to enjoy the Kiwi upbringing I experienced?

Unfortunately the political process in our society is put under great pressure to support the profit driven economic system, however it must be understood this system puts little or no value on things people value the most. Untamed landscapes, native wildlife and unspoiled beaches have no immediate monetary value, but they are New Zealand’s greatest wealth.