Ngai Tahu are planning a large new subdivision for Christchurch, in a joint venture with supermarket giant Foodstuffs South Island and the largely Singapore-owned CDL Land New Zealand.
The Prestons Road project is made up of 2,500 sections and a commercial area.
The parties have been buying farmland in the area, on the northern fringe of the city.
Ngai Tahu Property development manager David Schwartfeger told Waatea News that the Maori elements in the design will be subtle but crucial.
He says in particular Ngai Tahu will treat the waterways with great care, recycling water where possible.
Mr Schwartfeger says areas which have been scoured out, drained and channelled will be returned to wetlands and waterways that are more traditional.
David Schwartfeger says Prestons Road is being thought of as a 20-year project, so the developers aren't concerned at the current state of the property market.
