Environment Court declines Okura development appeal

The Environment Court has put a stop to a developer's plan to build up to 1,500 houses on protected land by the Okura Estuary about 20km north of Auckland. Okura Holdings, a subsidiary of the Todd Property Group, was appealing against Auckland Council's decision not to rezone the land to allow the development. The court backed the council decision. Forest and Bird was part of the court action, it's environmental lawyer Sally Gepp applaudes the move.