The push to ban Auckland’s ‘rich and famous’ from having private helipads

Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Sharon Murdoch cartoon for July 9, 2025.

The disquiet is growing in Auckland’s central coastal suburbs where residents have been told to brace for a wave of private helicopters.

The comments were made at a packed out public meeting held in Westmere last week, where neighbours of ex-All Black Ali Williams and toy tycoon Anna Mowbray discussed what to do about the couple’s newly consented helipad.

An Auckland councillor plans to propose a ban of suburban helipads but said it would be up to concerned locals to lobby their elected representatives to get it across the line.

“What about a protest?”, a member of the crowd asked to applause.

Ex-All Black Ali Williams and toy tycoon Anna Mowbray got consent for two flights a day from their Westmere mansion.

“Inside or outside council chambers?” says one. “How about Rawene Avenue?” says another, referring to the richlisters’ peninsular property.

North Shore's John Gillon, Waitematā's Alexandra Bonham and Mt Albert's Helen White attended the meeting opposing helipads in Westmere.

Mt Albert MP Helen White summed up the sentiment: “There is a difference between what’s law and what is right … [And], it’s not a God-given right to have a helicopter.”

Waitematā local board member Alexandra Bonham added that the consent decision was “unfair, rude and unreasonable to a majority of Aucklanders”.

Chloe Swarbrick tells a meeting in Westmere that the proliferation of helipads is 'bad for Kiwis, bad for conservation and bad for the climate.”

Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick said “the law radically needs to change”.

“It’s frankly not democracy if approximately 90% of people are ardently opposed to something, but those who can afford fancy lawyers can exert their will over people.

At a public meeting, Westmere residents discuss how to fund an appeal of Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray's helipad consent.

“The proliferation of helipads is bad for Kiwis, it’s bad for conservation, and bad for the climate,” she said.

Williams and Mowbray did not attend the meeting at the Hawke Sea Scout hall, but would have been able to see it happening out of their windows from across Cox’s Bay.

Despite 1227 written objections to their resource consent application, commissioners decided residents concerns could be legally met by restricting flights to two a day and only before 10pm.

Quiet Sky Waitematā's Jeanette Budgett tells residents in Westmere there will be further applications for helipads if nothing is done.

Yet, that compromise appeared to be no consolation to residents, with one member of the crowd suggesting commissioners had “the intelligence of a chocolate fish”.

Another pointed out that the chairing commissioner Kitt Littlejohn was also a director of Waiheke’s Kennedy Point Marina - which itself was controversially approved despite community protest over impacts to wildlife.

The public meeting of Westmere residents hear that how they fund the next round of appeals is a concern. “We are not well off despite the appearances and where we live.”

Of even greater concern was the commissioners’ decision stating that helicopter flights were a “permitted activity … inherently associated with residential land use”.

Jeanette Budgett of campaign group Quiet Sky Waitematā said the wording of the ruling could “open the flood gates right across the country”.

“We understand there have already been fresh applications,” she said.

A member of the crowd who had travelled from Aotea Great Barrier said his once peaceful island now rang with the incessant sound of choppers.

“There are places that helipads are appropriate, but not in residential areas,' Waitematā ward councillor Mike Lee tells the Westmere meeting.

“They [helipad owners] are all the rich and famous who turn out when it suits them … The locals… are all furious.”

He added: “You have the support of all 1200 of us, let us know what we can do.”

Auckland's councillors voted in March 2024 over whether to initiate a prohibition on helipads, with the resolution failing by just two votes.

Quiet Sky’s Elena Keith said appealing the decision in court would cost $150,000 “minimum” and they had two weeks to fundraise.

“Trust me, if this one [consent] goes ahead, it’s open season … [But], how we fund the next round is a concern,” she said.

Budgett added: “We are not well off despite the appearances and where we live.”

It had already cost the group $104,000 to participate in the resource consent hearing process.

“An appeal is in the works, but who and how will be revealed in the next week,” said Keith.

Quiet Sky Waitematā told residents it was up to them to make their opinions known with Auckland's councillors.

In the meantime, their hopes rested with Waitematā councillor Mike Lee who told attendees that he would submit a notice of motion at the council’s policy and planning committee meeting on July 24, seeking to formally ban private helipads in residential areas.

He explained that he had previously asked council staff about making helicopter flights a “prohibited activity” but was told that legally speaking it would be “nearly impossible” - a reasoning that Lee is incredulous of.

It’s also not the first time Lee has attempted to bring a notice of motion before councillors, with a proposal in March last year narrowly failing by two votes.

Attendees were encourage to contact councillors and make their views known ahead of the upcoming vote.

“This is about the rights of ratepayers to have peaceful enjoyment of their home,” said Lee.

Swarbrick added that the whole situation was just plain “stupid”

“What a waste of time and energy for this room of 100-plus people, having to rally against a billionaire’s toy.

“[But], I can make it crystal clear, the Greens stand with you.“

Ali Williams has not responded to request for comment from The Post.