The development, up to 22 metres, by aged care provider, Sanderson Group, is not the only high rise earmarked for Mt Maunganui.

Stuff has sighted plans for apartments up to 30 metres height in another residential area, and has seen a request from a developer to raise height levels in one of the Mount’s popular multimillion dollar streets.

“This is not Surfers Paradise. No one wants the Mount to turn into the Gold Coast,” says Barry Brown, a retired corporate lawyer who has been coming to the Mount since the 1960s, and has lived here since the 90s.

He’s so passionate about retaining the character, and protecting the coastline of Aotearoa’s best known beach town, that he’s spearheading a group of residents who oppose the high rises.

Maura Tailby says her property, which is next door to the development, will be “significantly impacted”.

“It will take away my sunlight. I will be boxed in at the side and the back by a tall tower looking down on us. It’s not right. This is our home.”

Her husband has dementia and finds it hard to cope with change.

“They even said he should move into the development, there’s no way we could afford it - each apartment will cost a fortune.”

Trish Anderson, who lives next door to Maura, says residents had no idea the retirement home was going to be so tall.

“The way the plan was changed lacks transparency. This could affect everyone in New Zealand - this could happen in your street or your neighbourhood.

“It will limit light, and encroach on peoples privacy. This is already a highly congested traffic area. There’s already pollution from the port affecting people’s physical and mental health.“

The site, which was formerly low lying council owned housing for elders, was sold to Sanderson for an undisclosed sum by Tauranga City Council, with settlement last week.

Residents say they were “taken by surprise” as Sanderson opted to apply for its resource consent under the Labour Government’s the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020, which mean it did not have to be taken to the community under traditional resource consent processes.

“Under the fast-track consenting process the community is largely deprived of a voice in what is a very significant matter,” says Barry.

Fast-track consenting legislation was enacted in July 2020 when there were fears about the effect of Covid on the economy.

“There is no legitimate basis whatsoever for resource consent applications to continue to be dealt with under now-repealed legislation which has served its purpose and which deprives the community of its voice and its rights,” says Barry.

Tauranga Council supported the fast tracked process, which Barry believes to be a conflict of interest.

“The development does not sufficiently meet the criteria for fast-tracking anyway,” says Brown.

“Those criteria include providing economic benefits to communities or industries affected by Covid.”

The new high rise luxury retirement village and aged facility planned in Mt Maunganui. Photo: Sanderson Group.

Barry wrote to Minister for the Environment Penny Simmonds expressing his concerns about the development.

He received a reply in February, sighted by Stuff, in which the minister says an “independent consenting panel”, will decide on the Pitau application, and that this panel would be informed of “wider community interests.”

Direct neighbours told Stuff they have receiveed letters recently from this panel inviting them to submit their views.

“Sanderson Group also participated in the Tauranga City Plan Change 33 that commenced with submissions in September 2022 identifying serious housing shortage in Tauranga.

“Plan Change 33 is a critical enabling plan change that addresses housing shortages including rightly placing intensification and increased building heights within walkable catchments of key town centres.”

He's aware of the opposition.

“The Mount has been ever evolving from scattered baches of the 1940s to the present day and naturally there are mixed feelings toward progress.”

Tauranga City Council strategy, growth and governance general manager Christine Jones says Plan Change 33 is part of the requirements of the government’s Resource Management (Enabling Housing supply and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021 to implement the Medium Density Residential Standards developed by both the previous Labour government and supported by National.

This allows people to build up to three dwellings of up to three storeys on most sections in residential zones, without needing to obtain a resource consent.

“Through Plan Change 33 it has been proposed that properties within 400m of the Mount North commercial centre are rezoned to enable 22 metres (six storeys) through a restricted discretionary resource consent,” says Christine.

The development will be of “world class” luxury standard, a first in New Zealand, says Jared, of such quality that Sanderson founder, Tauranga local, Fraser Sanderson, is looking forward to retiring there with his wife Donna.

The new facility includes 160 apartments, 69 care suites, and 195 basement car parks within three six-storey buildings.

Upward of 280 residents will occupy the independent living apartments and 69 in care.

Services include a café/restaurant, bar, theatre, library, health spa, gym, swimming pool, hair salon, and medical suites.

“As the retirement village provides extensive on site amenities and is located within short walking distance of the Mount town centre, minimal use of private vehicles will be required.”

More than 45 per cent of the Mount’s current population will be aged over 65 years in the next 20 years and care is already in short supply, he said.

“It’s well reported that care in New Zealand is in crisis. For our housing supply situation, every apartment or care suite occupied by a retiree releases their home to the market, increasing our housing supply.”

Unit sizes will range from 85m2 to 220m2 plus carpark, and presales begin in September.

Work is planned to start mid 2024, with first residents moving in 2026.

The full development is anticipated to be completed late 2028.