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RNZ News
29-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Auckland millionaires fail to attend controversial helipad hearing in person
The Rawene Avenue property where the helipad might be built. Photo: RNZ/Maia Ingoe Multi-millionaire couple Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams have not taken up the chance to personally convince a hearing that they should be granted a suburban helipad. Thursday was the final day for the applicants to satisfy the panel of independent commissioners that their application meets the demands and conditions of a helicopter pad at their Rawene Avenue property in Westmere, Auckland. The resource consent application hearing was adjourned on Thursday, with the couple absent from the hearing. Anna Mowbray of Zuru Toys and the job platform Zeil, and former All-Black Ali Williams' contentious application hearing has gone ahead this month at the Auckland Town Hall, without their physical presence throughout. During the hearing, a panel of independent commissioners have heard expert evidence and submissions from those opposing and supporting the application. The hearing is not yet officially closed, RNZ understands this could take another week with the panel now deliberating whether they require further information. The independent panel will then have a 15 working day window to announce a decision, meaning the couple will have to wait until later next month to hear an outcome. The applicants' lawyer, Chris Simmons, asked the panel not to let their absence influence their decision making. "I'll take a moment just to encourage the panel not to read anything into the applicants' physical absence from the hearing," he said. "They are absolutely invested in this application, they've been involved and in fact, I think that they've observed online, every minute of proceedings. "The applicants have adopted a comprehensive approach to consultation and undertaken a thorough examination of potential adverse effects that been identified," the lawyer said. According to Auckland Council, out of 1397 written submissions made on the application, a majority - 1227, or 87 percent - opposed the helipad . One hundred and eight were supportive, and 12 were neutral. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
13-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Controversial helipad faces stiff opposition on second day of Auckland hearing
The Rawene Avenue property where the helipad might be built. Photo: RNZ/Maia Ingoe The Aucklanders who want to build a helicopter pad on their multi-million dollar Westmere property have faced stiff opposition from the public on the second day of a hearing on their resource consent application . The applicants, Anna Mowbray of Zuru Toys and the job platform Zeil, and former All Black Ali Williams have been represented at the hearing by their legal counsel, who finished making their case on Tuesday morning. For the rest of the week, an independent panel will be hearing from members of the public who are mostly opposed to the helipad. Reuben Jackson from the Hawke Sea Scouts told the panel on Tuesday that if a helicopter was permitted to land at Coxs Bay around low tide, their scouts aged 6 and up would no longer be able to do activities there at that time. The couple's Rawene Avenue property borders the bay. He said the scouts were based about 300 metres from the proposed helipad. "We're really concerned about the safety of our youth when we go out and do coastal clean-ups and ecology walks. "It would be very dangerous to have a helicopter near us." Jackson was disappointed the community organisation was not consulted by the applicant about how a helicopter would impact them. Forest and Bird Nelson branch chairperson Craig Potton also joined the fight to stop the helipad from going ahead. Speaking remotely via a video link he said helicopter activity at Coxs Bay would unnecessarily harm the well-being of the estuary's migrant bird population. "These birds are in a very serious state of decline. It's important that in the period they spend in New Zealand they get a chance to feed up before they fly back via China towards Alaska or wherever their breeding ground is. "Any kind of disturbance in these estuaries, not just helicopters, has a cumulative impact." A neighbour of the couple said he was unhappy about the noise a landing helicopter would create in the residential area. Ian Swinton said helicopters interrupted his ability to have conversations and make phone calls when they flew over his home. "We live within 220 metres of the applicant's site. We've experienced helicopters and their intrusion into our lives from having them in close range at odd times." Another submitter, psychologist Gail Janet Ratcliffe, echoed these concerns. She said on Waiheke Island, which had around 60 helicopter pads, locals had experienced a great deal of distress. "I've had clients referred to me for dealing with the effects of helicopter-related stress. "People who live near helicopters - it impacts their sleep, it makes them anxious, angry, depressed, they can't work if they work from home." Some submitters spoke in support of the high-flying couple's helipad. One neighbour, who did not want to be named, accused those opposing the development of scaremongering. She said people falsely claimed a helicopter would be used at the property twice a day every day. She said there were rumours she had been offered a family car in exchange for supporting the application, which she unequivocally denied. The hearing is set to continue on Wednesday, and the panel will decide the fate of Coxs Bay in the coming weeks. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
13-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Couple wanting helicopter pad in Westmere face opposition
A multi-millionaire couple who want to build a helicopter pad on their property in the Auckland suburb of Westmere have faced stiff opposition from the public. At a hearing at Auckland Town Hall today, a panel of independent commissioners have been hearing from those opposing and supporting the couple's resource consent application. The applicants, Anna Mowbray of Zuru Toys and the job platform Zeil, and former All-Black Ali Williams are being represented at the week-long hearing by their legal counsel, who finished making their case this morning. Jessica Hopkins reports. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
12-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Auckland millionaires' controversial helipad hearing gets underway
The Rawene Avenue property where the helipad might be built. Photo: RNZ/Maia Ingoe A community's fight against a multi-millionaire couple's plans to build a helicopter pad at their Westmere property is continuing. A five-day public hearing on Anna Mowbray of Zuru Toys and the job platform Zeil, and former All-Black Ali Williams' controversial resource consent application began on Monday at Auckland Town Hall. During the hearing, a panel of independent commissioners will hear expert evidence and submissions from those opposing and supporting the application. Ali Williams. Photo: RNZ The applicant, represented by their legal counsel, would be making their case on Monday. The property is on Rawene Avenue. According to Auckland Council, out of 1397 written submissions made on the application, a majority - 1227, or 87 percent - opposed the helipad. One hundred and eight were supportive, and 12 were neutral. Some of those submitters, including from the group Quiet Sky Waitematā, were expected to present at the hearing in the coming days. About 20 members of the public were in the public gallery for the first day of the hearing. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
