‘Shovel Ready’ – Work Poised To Begin On Maitahi Village

Sunday, 21 September 2025, 7:02 pm
Article: Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter

20 September 2025

Fast-track approval has been granted for the controversial Maitahi Village in Nelson’s Kākā Valley and one of the developers spearheading the project said work could begin next month.

On Thursday, it was announced that the project is the second in the country, and the first housing project, to be given a fast-track greenlight by its expert hearing panel. The development was expected to include around 180 homes, including 50 Ngāti Koata iwi-led houses, a retirement village with 194 townhouses and 36 in-care units, and a commercial centre. 

Andrew Spittal, one of the directors of development company CCKV Maitai Dev Co Ltd, said his reaction to the news was “more relief than jubilation”. “It’s been a long process, it’s been arduous. We are ready to go. We’ve been ready to go for the last two years.” 

Work on the Maitahi Village concept began back in 2019, and it has seen stiff opposition from resident group Save the Maitai, which fought the development during its private plan change hearing and in the Environment Court. The fast-track approval can be appealed to the High Court, but appeals must be lodged within 20 working days of approval being granted, can only relate to questions of law and be lodged by parties invited to comment on the application. 

Save the Maitai had been invited and opposed the Maitahi Village through the fast-track process. A spokesperson for the group declined to comment on the approval before they had had the chance to review the panel’s decision. Assuming the approval wasn’t appealed, Spittal described the project as “shovel-ready” with earthworks poised to begin in late October, and the first homes potentially completed by late 2027. 

“We haven’t been sitting on our bums. There was a lot of work, there’s a lot of plans, there’s a lot of stuff all done – engineering plans. It’s sitting ready to go,” he said. “We have to get there, and we’ll deliver it… there’s going to be a lot of exciting, good stuff that we’re going to end up doing.” 

Many of the objections around the Maitahi Village relate to its effects on the environment, but Spittal said the development would deliver a “positive net outcome” for the local ecology. “When you look up there now, it’s gorse and rubbish – it’s going to be regenerated. Yes, there is going to be 380 houses up there, but there are also going to be a lot of new planting, a lot of better wetlands, a lot more protection. There’s not going to be cattle and goats and sheep.” 

Having many more residents living near the central city would also stimulate Nelson’s local economy, he said. The development of the village was also expected to inject up to $308 million into the local economy. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop welcomed the housing development’s approval. “The development will provide much-needed housing and commercial infrastructure for the Nelson region,” Bishop said. “I’m pleased to see the system starting to deliver approvals in these key areas to help address our significant infrastructure deficit and increase housing supply.” 

Earlier this week, Nelson Mayor Nick Smith signed an agreement with the developers about the delivery of the infrastructure to enable the village to be built. More than $100 million was being spent by the developers and the council to deliver key infrastructure that supported the housing development, as well installing walking and cycling facilities and upgrading water infrastructure. The council’s share of $27m was related to increasing capacity for residents in eastern Nelson that wasn’t used by the development. 

“These benefits include improved water quality in the Maitai River by replacing old wastewater pipes that leak and improved water supply security in surrounding suburbs,” Smith said. “Our economy is struggling and the hundreds of millions of dollars’ investment in infrastructure and homes over the next five years will be a much-needed boost, providing jobs and growth.” 

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