Wayby Valley (the Dome) Landfill
with various iwi groups | AUCKLAND REGION
The why!
The Wayby Valley landfill is set to be New Zealand's largest, situated north of Auckland in a region of complex geology in the upper catchment of Kaipara Moana. The applicant, Waste Management New Zealand (WMNZ), designed the landfill to meet Auckland's predicted future waste disposal needs. Under consideration for nearly two decades, the project has moved through a contentious plan change, consenting and litigation process entirely under the RMA (predating Fast-track), with proceedings running through to the High Court and Court of Appeal.
How did we assist?
The Catalyst Group was principal resource management advisor to several iwi and hapū groups opposing the landfill throughout the hearing process, and who’s focus was on the project's downstream impacts on the Hōteo Awa and Kaipara Moana. We provided technical effects management and offsetting assessment and planning support through the early plan change and consent hearings and Environment Court process, and later supported mediation and final agreement negotiations.
At the outset, all iwi were in opposition — and to a significant degree those arguments found favour, with both the Council-level hearing and the Environment Court's preliminary findings reflecting the iwi position.
Subsequently, Ngāti Manuhiri reached an agreement with WMNZ to partner in the landfill's development, while Ngāti Whātua and others maintained their opposition. Ultimately, the remaining iwi groups determined to allow the project to proceed, on the basis that sufficiently robust provisions were secured for cultural values and the recovery and restoration of catchments feeding the Kaipara Moana. The Catalyst Group worked closely with iwi and WMNZ through those final negotiations to develop consent conditions and site agreements that best reflected iwi interests.
What happened?
Negotiations with iwi were completed around mid-2025. The Environment Court's final decision, released in March 2026, allowed the landfill to proceed. While some issues remain outstanding, this is the closest the project has come to a green light in two decades.