Richard Prosser MP

Spokesperson for Primary Industries
28 JULY 2016

Pukekohe Soils Must Be Spared From Urban Sprawl

Prime agricultural growing land around Pukekohe must be excluded from any plan to extend Auckland’s boundaries, says New Zealand First Primary Industries Spokesperson Richard Prosser commenting on the proposed new Auckland Unitary Plan.

“Pukekohe with its volcanic soils is simply too valuable in terms of food production to be turned into housing developments.

“In terms of food security, this area is of vital strategic importance to New Zealand. It has the best soils for growing food of any region in New Zealand, quite possibly the world, and more importantly, coupled with its climate it is the only part of this country where many crops can be grown all year round.

“Burying unique and irreplaceable soil under acres of concrete and tarmac, for the sake of not pushing townhouse developments elsewhere in Auckland of up to three and four storeys, would be utter economic and strategic folly for New Zealand,” Mr Prosser says.

ENDS

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