Te Uku subdivision takes shape with first sections nearly all sold

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

The Te Uku subdivision is on a 43ha block by the township. Pictured are real estate agent Richard Thomson, left, and Create Lifestyle developer Nigel Payne.

It’s all go at the Te Uku lifestyle subdivision, where stage 1 sections are almost all sold and work on infrastructure is well underway.

The subdivision sits alongside the Te Uku village on the way to Raglan, and Create Lifestyle developer Nigel Payne hopes it will help the community thrive.

“Ultimately, the two feel-goods really are going to be bringing more families into the school, boosting their numbers, and then all the planting we’re planning to do, as well as the walkways.”

The Te Uku subdivision is well under way and will provide 34 sections.

Create Lifestyle developer Nigel Payne purchased the land with his wife and business partner, Lisa.

Payne is an avid bush walker and his favourite spot to walk is up Pirongia Mountain. As a lover of the bush, he plans to have 6000 native plants going in soon as part of stage 1, and wants to plant about 50,000 natives eventually.

The subdivision is owned by Create Lifestyle developers.

PGG Wrightson agent Richard Thomson says this is a ‘luxury spot’ but with smaller sections. On the right is Create Lifestyle developer Nigel Payne.

The plantings will be focused on the wetland and river areas of the development as well as along pathways that will connect the development to the local school, so kids can walk to school off the main road. He also plans to work building around the contours of the land rather than bulldozing its natural character.

The 43ha block was rezoned by Te Uku farmer Glenn Neems before it was purchased by Payne and his wife and business partner, Lisa.

Stage 1 is now almost all sold, with only two sections left.

The subdivision will have 34 sections, the majority of which will be 5000m². Stage 1 has six sections that have been advertised since the end of last year for $450,000. Four are now sold and construction could begin on them in the next two to three months.

They are in discussions with the council to finalise the next stage, which will have seven sections, and hope to release them shortly after Christmas. The majority of the infrastructure, like roading and storm water for stage 1, is almost completed.

PGG Wrightson agent Richard Thomson, a local himself, reckoned the community was on-board with the development and it would add great value to the small community.

He said most of the interest they had seen so far had been from families and a few retirees. Mainly, buyers were from Hamilton or the surrounding areas.

Stage 1 of the subdivision has six sections, four of which are sold, which were advertised for $450,000.

Create Lifestyle developer Nigel Payne, left, plans to plant 50,000 natives in the subdivision. Pictured with real estate agent Richard Thomson.

Other than proximity to the beaches and funky township, being on the Hamilton side of Raglan was an advantage for commuters.

“This is a luxury spot, but it is also the first subdivision of this type in the Raglan area that’s got smaller sections rather than the normal 8000m².

“It’s attractive to people because they don’t have such a big parcel of land that they’ve got to look after, so I think that’s something that has been missing in the market.

“Here you are also part of a small community. You actually get to know your neighbours and look out for each other.”

Payne and Lisa bought the land about a year ago, and this is their second major subdivision as they usually focus on residential development.

“We were wrapping up at our other development up north and I learned so much stuff up there by giving it a shot, so I thought well ‘I might as well put that to use again’ … I also love the idea of creating infrastructure and having a bit of land like this, which you can then get so many people employed from.”