Ground broken as Beachlands project’s 307ha, multibillion-dollar development begins
Spades at the ready at the Beachlands sod-turning for the development of a multi-billion dollar scheme, November 13, 2025, from left: Billy Brown of Ngāti Tai ki Tāmaki, Rob Bassett of Bassett Plumbing & Drainage, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Brett Russell of Russell Group, Mayor Wayne Brown, and Will Goodwin of the NZ Super Fund.
A sod-turning ceremony today marked the start of a multibillion-dollar project to develop 307ha in Auckland’s southeast at Beachlands.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and others took spades to dig into the ground to mark the milestone.
A statement came from the Beachlands South Limited Partnership comprising Russell Group, the NZ Super Fund and Ngāi Tai Hapai, an investment vehicle for Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and other local iwi.
Russell Property Group managing director Brett Russell said it had been planned for more than six years and now two years of earthworks were due to be carried out.
An earthworks consent enabled work to start on the first 37ha, where a new primary and secondary school, village centre and housing and community facilities are planned.
However, Russell said discussions with the Ministry of Education were ongoing and no decisions about the new schools had yet been made.
“There is a lot to do before we get any vertical construction under way but it’s pleasing to be under way on preparatory land-shaping work.”
International and local architectural, design and urban planning businesses had worked on the scheme, he said.
The project would take 10 to 15 years to complete.
Will Goodwin, co-chief investment officer of the NZ Super Fund, said the Beachlands project fitted the fund’s style of investing.
“We have a multi-generational investment mandate, so when we assess an investment opportunity, we can take a longer view rather than being driven by short-term market considerations,” Goodwin said.
Ngāti Tai Ki Tāmaki blessed the site this morning.
Last December, appeals were dropped against the scheme.
The partnership had worked with Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and others to address concerns and reach agreements to finalise approval of the plan change.
Land to be developed includes the 170.5ha Formosa Golf Course.
“The success of negotiating a sensible outcome means that the development process can now move forward with the next phase of planning,” Russell said in December.
Jasmax (Auckland), Woods Bagot in Melbourne, Studio Pacific in Wellington and Studio Woodroffe Papa in London did the master planning and urban design.
Tonkin & Taylor did coastal engineering and contamination ecology work. Harrison Grierson is the civil and infrastructure engineer.
Simpson Grierson and Russell Bartlett, KC, handled legal work.
Norman Disney Young in Sydney was the carbon consultant and the traffic engineers are Stantec.
Beachlands development
- Beachlands South plan change land: 307.2ha
- Of that, 255ha is owned by Beachlands South Limited Partnership
- The 170.5ha Formosa Golf Course site, 110 Jack Lachlan Drive, is included
- Also included is 84.7ha at 620 and 712 Whitford-Maraetai Rd
- 52ha of land is held by others, but in the scheme
- Land is at 110 Jack Lachlan Drive and 620, 680, 682, 702, 712, 722, 732, 740, 746, 758 and 770 Whitford-Maraetai Rd.
Beachlands South Limited Partnership
- Guardians of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund
- Parties associated with the Russell Property Group, including Brett Russell and Rob Bassett of Bassett Plumbing & Drainage
- Ngāi Tai Hapai, an investment vehicle for Ngāti ki Tāmaki and other iwi.
Anne Gibson has been the Herald‘s property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.
- Listen and subscribe to the Today in Business podcast – the top headlines from the NZ Herald business team summarised and delivered by an artificial intelligence (AI) voice as an easily digestible recap.