PHOTO: 91% of public submissions opposed the application – but the green light has been given. FILE
🏡 Resource Consent Approved for Private Helipad in Parnell
Auckland power couple Ali Williams (former All Black) and Anna Mowbray (Zuru co-founder) have received official approval to construct a private helipad at their estimated $24 million luxury mansion in Parnell.
The decision was handed down by three independent commissioners appointed by Auckland Council after weeks of heated debate and near-universal public opposition.
✈️ 10 Flights Per Month Approved — But Noise “Not Unreasonable”
Despite 1,277 of 1,397 submissions opposing the project (91.4%), the helipad was deemed permissible under the Auckland Unitary Plan (AUP).
“Helicopter use is a permitted activity in residential zones,” the commissioners noted.
Key conditions include:
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✅ Maximum 2 flights per day
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✅ No more than 10 flights per month
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✅ Helicopter to idle only for 2 mins 20 secs
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✅ Aircraft: Airbus H130
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✅ Must shut down if idle for over 1 minute due to delays
The commissioners concluded that the noise and visual impact would not “materially diminish” local amenity.
📣 Public Opposition: “Sets a Worrying Precedent”
Opposition group Quiet Sky Waitematā expressed deep concern over the council’s ruling.
“This isn’t the outcome we hoped for,” said committee member Elena Keith.
“It sets a worrying precedent for future applications in Auckland.”
With helicopters already sparking noise complaints in coastal suburbs, residents fear this may pave the way for more helipads in high-end residential zones.
💬 What This Means for Auckland’s Luxury Property Market
The case underscores a growing tension between ultra-high-net-worth property owners and local communities over what counts as acceptable use of residential land.
Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray’s lifestyle-focused real estate decisions – complete with yachts, mega-mansions, and now helipads – are reflective of a broader global trend in the elite luxury real estate segment.
As one local property analyst told Property Noise:
“This isn’t just about noise — it’s about the shifting definition of ‘residential use’ in Auckland’s most elite suburbs.”