February 25, 2026

#regional: Fast-Track Approval Brings New Homes Closer for Hawke’s Bay

Matthew Tukaki Posted On February 25, 2026

A major residential development in Hawke’s Bay known as the Arataki project has been given fast-track approval, moving it closer to construction and the delivery of new housing in the region.

The proposal by CDL Land NZ Limited seeks to subdivide approximately 11 hectares in the Arataki area of Havelock North to create between 150 and 200 residential allotments.

Under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024, the project’s resource consent application was lodged in July 2025 and has progressed through the expert panel process more swiftly than under standard planning procedures. The panel has now granted approval, subject to conditions aimed at ensuring development meets environmental and planning requirements.

The fast-track designation means that Arataki is recognised as a development of regional significance that can help address housing demand and support economic activity in Hawke’s Bay. The scope of the subdivision includes roading, water infrastructure, parks and walkways in line with broader urban expansion plans for the area.

Final conditions set by the expert panel cover construction management and environmental safeguards to guide the build-out of the site. Panels under the fast-track regime also consider feedback from local authorities and iwi, and recent decisions reflect requirements for managing impacts on the local environment and community infrastructure.

The approval marks a key step in advancing housing supply amid ongoing pressure for new residential options in Hawke’s Bay. Developers and regional planners now turn attention to the next phases of development, with detailed designs and construction planning expected to get underway.

As the Arataki project moves forward, it is set to contribute to meeting housing needs while also stimulating local employment and investment through stages of subdivision and build-out across the coming years.