Where is Tara-Ika located?
To the south-east of Levin, between State Highway 57 and the foothills of the Tararua Ranges.
Why have you chosen this area to develop?
Taraika was first identified as a Growth Area by Council in the Horowhenua Development Plan in 2008 and again in the Horowhenua Growth Strategy 2040 in 2018. Both processes went through a public engagement process. Several landowners were planning to build separate subdivisions on the land. Given it was a growth area, Council contacted the landowners and iwi and created a master plan to create a connected community. The land was then rezoned in the District Plan, using the process outlined in the Resource Management Act 1991.
Will current homeowners be required to subdivide and develop their properties?
No, current home and landowners in the area will not be required to subdivide or develop.
How will stormwater be dealt with?
The intention is for nearly all stormwater to be stored on site. Stormwater will be held in wetlands and basins to manage the water quality and eventually drain into the groundwater.
Where is the funding coming from?
The Government through Crown Infrastructure Partners is partially funding the infrastructure costs through concessionary loans, and grants. Council will fund the remaining costs through co-infrastructure funding agreements and contributions from developers. Maintaining Council infrastructure will be funded by rates, as is the case in the rest of the district.
What sort of school will be built there?
The Ministry of Education is interested in building a primary school in Tara-Ika, but the timing is not yet known.
How many jobs will it create?
Up to 280 full-time positions will be directly created through this project. We anticipate several hundred more support and supply chain roles.
How much housing will be provided?
The development will provide approximately 3,500 houses – homes for between 8,000 to 10,000 people.
Who will build the houses?
The landowners may build houses on their land, or they may work with specialist builders to do so.
Will all the houses look the same?
The intention is that Tara-Ika has mixed-density zones which will help ensure different types of housing are built. However, house design is something that is controlled by the developer, not Council.
What public consultation is being held?
Following extensive public consultation, District Plan Change 4: Taraika Growth Area was adopted in March 2024. This changed the site's zoning from Greenbelt Residential Deferred to multiple zones: Greenbelt Residential, Low-Density Residential, Standard Residential, Medium Density Residential, Commercial and Open Space.
Who are the key stakeholders?
- Landowners
- Crown Infrastructure Partners
- Muaūpoko Tribal Authority
- NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
- Ministry of Education.
How will Tara-Ika be affected by the Ōtaki to North of Levin Expressway (Ō2NL)?
Horowhenua District Council and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi are committed to ensuring the infrastructure built for Tara-Ika is future-proofed.
When will houses be built?
We expect construction of the first houses may start in late 2025-26.
How will residents/pedestrians of the new development access Levin CBD safely once Tara-Ika and Ō2NL are built?
The proposal is for Queen Street and Tararua Roads to connect traffic from east to west. There are also dedicated pedestrian bridges proposed between Queen Street and Tararua Road.