The Greater Wellington Regional Council has successfully purchased a 1366-hectare parcel of land in Wainuiomata – Eastbourne, incorporating wetlands, coastal access, and native bush. This block known as Gollans Valley adjoins two existing parts of East Harbour Regional Park, effectively linking them into one continuous area.
Comprised of both farmland and ecologically rich wetland, the land was acquired for $9 million, above its listed capital value of $7.43 million, with $1 million of that sum gifted from the estate of local conservationist and mountaineer John Marsden Nankervis.
Owned by the same family for six decades, the property’s sale prompted strong local advocacy for its acquisition by the regional council to enhance the regional park network.
Council chair Daran Ponter described the purchase as a key step in unifying the park, stating it now spans uninterrupted from Wainuiomata Saddle to Pencarrow’s coastline, with the entire eastern skyline of Wellington Harbour either in public ownership or under conservation protection.
Ponter noted that such opportunities are rare: perhaps once in a generation and added that the acquisition would not lead to a rates increase, as it would be funded through reductions to the council’s operational budget.
The council is set to take possession of the land in July. Around 400 hectares are currently used for sheep and cattle grazing, and public access will remain restricted until a formal planning and consultation process is carried out.
That process will help identify areas for walking trails, zones requiring protection, and areas where pest control work must be prioritised. Ponter said owning the land would make pest eradication far more effective, as it enables full access along the coastline with no gaps for pest habitats.
Eventually, the site may feature infrastructure for recreational use, including walking tracks, campsites, and mountain biking facilities.
Interestingly, this is the only part of Wainuiomata with an Eastbourne address — 525 Muritai Road. That’s because the harbour coastline was its original access point, much like Jackson’s Bay, during a time when Wainuiomata had no road connection and was reached only by tracks.
Credits
Special thanks to Carl Smith for some information in this article.
