Maymorn

Maymorn is a rural area of Upper Hutt city in the Wellington region of New Zealand consisting of Rural Hill and Rural Valley Floor zones. For statistical purposes, Maymorn is counted as part of Te Marua in the New Zealand census. The usual resident 2013 population of the Te Marua area was 1,152. The area is a tranquil setting consists of lifestyle blocks and farms surrounded by hills that are usually covered with a dusting of snow in the winter.

The Upper Hutt City Council is working with Becca as to develop the area into high density housing under the Maymorn Structure Plan.^[1] This will allow for the development of 1800 'affordable' houses and terraced housing in the now pristine rural valley. This planned development is in contradiction to the Upper Hutt City Council's stance set as a precedence in the Environmental Court Case of Norwood Lodge v Upper Hutt City Council^[2] and the Environmental Court Case between Maymorn Land Trust Limited and the Upper Hutt City Council.^[3] As part of the defense in the latter case, Mr M W Lewandowski (Now UHCC Planning Policy Manager) drew attention to the importance of the Upper Hutt District Plan which states:

3.4.1 To recognise the different qualities and characteristics of the City's unique environments by managing the adverse effects of the use, development and subdivision of land on an area specific basis.

As regards the Rural Zone, the explanation to the policy states: The Rural Zone contains areas within which rural and rural-based activities can occur. The landscape is intended to remain spacious and uncluttered and generally rural in character and environmental quality. The Rural Zone covers small rural holdings as well as virtually untouched conservation areas at the boundaries of the City. A balanced approach is needed to sustainably manage the resources of this part of the city (referring to Maymorn).

5.4.1 To manage the adverse environmental effects from the scale, density, number and location of earthworks, new building developments and activities, so that they do not significantly compromise rural character and landscape values.

5.4.2 To ensure subdivision, development and land use within the valley floor and hill sub-zones minimize adverse effects on rural character, areas of significant compromise rural character and landscape values.

As regards the 5.4.2, the explanation to the policy states: Maintaining larger lot sizes in the Valley Floor Sub-Zone and Hill Sup-Zone will generally ensure that the rural character is not compromised by numerous clusters of buildings spread across the landscape.

From the Norwood Lodge case: This case is primarily about the integrity of the Upper Hutt District Plan. We accept the evidence of the residents appearing for the council who purchased because the minimum lot size gave them the confidence that the rural amenity they so valued would be protected. Ratepayers and residents have every right to be able to rely on the Upper Hutt District Plan.

The UHCC Maymorn Structure Plan development is in conflict with the District Plan that is meant to protect the Rural Zone. Upper Hutt City Council's response to this is - change the Upper Hutt District Plan. This will allow the UH council to build the proposed 1800 houses in the same area the Upper Hutt District Plan was supposed to protect - and was used to protect the area in the two above mentioned Environmental Court cases.

Because it is marginally populated, the area is best known for the Maymorn railway station, which is on the Wairarapa railway line between Woodville and Wellington and served by the Wairarapa Connection daily passenger train.

Maymorn station is near the southern portal of the Rimutaka railway tunnel, which opened in 1955 and replaced the Rimutaka Incline railway line which ran over the Rimutaka Range. The old route passes within 40 metres over the tunnel's exit.

See also

• Maymorn Railway Station
• Rimutaka Incline Railway
• Rimutaka Rail Trail
• Hiking Mt Clime in the Pakuratahi Forest
• Rimutaka Cycle Trail
• Cycle Maymorn

References