Plans for 1000 new homes for Flaxmere still in pipeline, but years away
Two major housing projects to expand the suburb of Flaxmere by about 1000 new homes are still in the pipeline, but the timing for delivering those homes has now been pushed back.
Flaxmere is a fast-growing suburb of Hastings with over 3200 homes, according to the latest Census.
It also has an estimated population of over 12,000 people.
Plenty of developments are underway or planned for the suburb to grow it further, including a new supermarket, a proposed new racecourse and a handful of medium-sized housing developments.
Perhaps most notably, two major housing projects are also proposed, one for about 450 homes and one for over 500 homes.
Tamatea Pōkai Whenua (formerly the Heretaunga Tamatea Settlement Trust) was granted consent in 2024 to build about 450 homes on a large section off Stock Rd, near the Hawke’s Bay Expressway.
Tamatea Pōkai Whenua had initially hoped to get started on that project soon after being granted consent.
However, the hapū-led entity confirmed to Hawke’s Bay Today it has since decided to deliver the project in the medium-to-long term, rather than the short term.
That means it is likely years away from starting.
“We are assessing the optimal timing for the commencement of the staged development of Wairatahi,” a Tamatea Pōkai Whenua spokeswoman said of the project.
The entity is currently focusing on a new partnership with Mana Ahuriri Trust, called Ka Uruora Te Matau a Māui, providing a range of support to help house whānau.
Meanwhile, a new development group, the Maven Collective, announced in 2024 plans to develop between 500 and 800 new homes on a large property off Portsmouth Rd.
That project had a win last year when the land was included in the Hastings-Napier Future Development Strategy, meaning it has been earmarked as a good site for future housing.
The Maven Collective initially aimed to begin the rezoning and consent process for that project in 2025.
However, Maven Collective co-director Graham Turley said the group was waiting to begin that consent process, given the proposed Flaxmere racecourse was now planned on land neighbouring the site (at the end of Portsmouth Rd).
TW Group, which owns the land for the racecourse, is looking to purchase a small part of the Maven Collective’s property for the racecourse.
Turley said once that had been worked through, Maven could then move ahead with the rezoning application for the housing project.
“We haven’t changed course, it’s just been a bit slower,” he said.
He said Maven wanted to start the consent process “sooner rather than later”, which could take a couple of years to complete.
Turley said there was a lot of exciting development happening around Flaxmere, and “if anything, our confidence is probably higher” for the housing project.
He said Flaxmere was a desirable place for new housing.
“When you look at the devastation caused by [Cyclone] Gabrielle, I don’t know if there was even a puddle on Portsmouth Rd, in that area.
“In this current climate, I think it is a very safe place for development to occur.”
The Maven Collective has four directors Turley, Andrew Bagrie, Mark Ericksen and Simon Tremain. Tremain is also a director of TW Group.
Other housing projects around Flaxmere
There are smaller housing projects underway or in the pipeline around Flaxmere, such as along Flaxmere Ave, Caernarvon Drive, and Swansea Rd.
That includes TW Group’s plans to build 140 homes at 72 Caernarvon Drive. TW Group said 15 of those homes are under construction.
Hastings District Council is currently building a new elder rental housing complex, called Te Pā Harakeke, on Swansea Rd in central Flaxmere, with 39 units.
The council hopes to complete that project by mid-2026.
Other housing projects are also ongoing.