"Thinking beyond your own fence line": subdivision and land use tensions in Pohangina Valley, near Palmerston North

Abstract

In Pohangina Valley, near Palmerston North, subdivision over the last 30 years has created a mix of large sheep, beef, dairy and deer farms, lifestyle blocks and village housing lots. For the Valley, like many other New Zealand rural communities, this has lead to a diversity of perspectives and tensions between some residents over subdivision and land use. A number of these issues were exposed at a workshop held as part of a "Project Pohangina" Community Conference. Key issues for participants were a desire to maintain the Valley's beauty, natural features and views, keep population density synchronised with available infrastructure, restrain ad hoc subdivision and buildings, control weeds, pests and unlimited tree plantings, protect farm profitability and maintain private property rights. Identification and reconciliation of these potentially conflicting goals by rural communities highlights some of the challenges of maintaining a vibrant community in a productive farming landscape. Keywords: subdivision, rural communities, land use tensions