Council should reject Ohoka subdivision plan - panel

Saturday, 21 June 2025

Plan of the proposed Carter Group subdivision at Ohoka in North Canterbury.

Plans to build a controversial housing subdivision at Ohoka, north of Christchurch, have hit another hurdle after failing to convince an independent hearings panel.

The proposal comes from Christchurch’s Carter Group, which wants Waimakariri District Council to rezone 156 hectares between Mill, Bradleys and Whites roads to allow a range of section sizes. The land is now zoned for lifestyle blocks.

The subdivision, Ohoka Estates, would have 850 homes with two shopping centres, a public square, and space for a school or retirement village.

In a report going before councillors on Tuesday, the panel will recommend rejecting the rezoning application.

It says while the subdivision as designed is “well-connected and accessible” internally, it would not have good transport links with the rest of the region.

The Ohoka Farmers Market. If the development were to go through it would transform Ohoka from a rural area of lifestyle blocks to a satellite town. (File photo)

“It has not been demonstrated that there is a specific demand for housing in this particular location of the district”.

The panel says while there is a need for more housing development, the council has “clearly demonstrated that sufficient development capacity is provided … and there is no shortfall arising that would provide a strong impetus for this requested rezoning to be considered more favourably”.

Ohoka homes are mostly large houses on lifestyle blocks, like this one.

The panel’s recommendation, after hearings held in July and November last year, follows the council’s November 2023 rejection of the subdivision based on an independent commissioner’s recommendation.

The Carter Group has appealed against the council’s decision to the Environment Court, with a court hearing still pending.

Tim Carter of the Carter Group, which wants to build the 850-home Okoka Estates subdivision north of Christchurch.

The project could also still be approved under the Fast Track Approvals Act. Ohoka Estates is one of 149 development proposals on the list for consideration under the new law.

The subdivision, if allowed, would turn Ohoka from a rural area with homes on lifestyle blocks mostly priced at between $1 million and $3m, to a satellite town. A home on Whites Rd sold this year for an Ohoka record of just under $4m.

Among those who made submissions opposing the Carter Group’s rezoning application were the council and the Ohoka Residents Association, who say it would spoil the rural character of their district.