2018 AND BEYOND - our vision for the future
The Sanctuary Mahi Whenua is once again poised to evolve as it adapts to land reforms, in line with the Auckland Unitary Plan and developments in the Wairaka Precinct (Carrington Development). Unitec's Corporate statement of evidence (December 2015) to the proposed Unitary Plan declared that 'The Wairaka Precinct has the potential to become a showcase for Auckland's "most liveable" outcomes.' The Wairaka Land Company aligns with this vision. For an overview of the Unitary Plan process with regards to the Wairaka Precinct, check out this article by Craig Magee on the Mt Albert Residents Association website.
As Auckland grows and intensifies, the gardens and food forest become a shared space that foster principles of permaculture and is recognised as a biodiversity hotspot. It is a place for all to visit and enjoy. The adjoining Oakley Creek/Te Auaunga Walkway is more accessible through the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua.
The community gardens and food forest become even more resilient, with local restaurants and families growing/are able to buy delicious, organic seasonal foods, all grown within a few kilometres of their homes.
Our vision aligns with 2 of the 10 Unitec One Planet principles, an initiative of Bioregional designed to make sustainable living a reality.
Read more about these 2 principles at:
The image above is an extract from Unitec's 2015 updated submission to the Auckland Unitary Plan. It includes the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua as part of its intention for the area to become one of the most liveable villages in the world.
Click on the image to view the entire M1 masterplan.
CURRENT state
The Sanctuary Mahi Whenua continues to provide as a resource for the community, the communal gardens provide food to more than 60 members and their families with some proceeds raised by the gardens being shared with local charities. Educational workshops and visits continue to take place at the Sanctuary. The space is visited and enjoyed by locals: during the COVID-19 pandemic many people discovered the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua as a place to enjoy. To read more about how the community is benefiting from Mahi Whenua check out the community page.
We have developed a traditional Māori garden.
The advocacy journey we took as a Society to maintain the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua as an entity was not easy. In June 2017 the Society was informed that the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua area was most likely to be the first block of land on the Unitec campus sold for development. On 12 December 2017 we were told to vacate the land by 1 May 2018. The 25 March 2018 announcement of the decision by the Government to purchase the land for its Land for Housing development programme removed the requirement to vacate the site. The sale and purchase agreement between Unitec and the Government resulted in the retaining of the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua as an entity with a safe future. However, at the beginning of 2024 this sale and purchase agreement is being breached by housing being planned to be built on the land.