Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty and Preserve New Chum for Everyone presented a petition to Thames-Coromandel District today calling for it to publicly notify any applications for developments of the land adjacent to Wainuiototo/New Chum beach.

Catherine presented the petition to Thames-Coromandel District Mayor Glenn Leach at the council offices in Thames at 1pm.

Preserve New Chum for Everyone's Linda Cholmondeley-Smith and Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty at New Chum Beach. Photo courtesy of Anna Horne.

Catherine says the beach has been called one of the top 10 wilderness beaches in the world.

The developers who owned the land adjacent to the beach have applied several times to build houses and roads in view of the beach, says Catherine.

Their latest applications for several houses and connecting roads is still being considered by staff at Thames-Coromandel District Council.

'This petition was inspired by the latest application for development and the threat that it might not be publicly notified because it is a reduced application,” says Catherine.

'The petition clearly shows public interest in protecting this beach as a wilderness is still high – and it's only right that locals should be allowed to have their say on the application.”

Catherine says New Chum Beach is a national treasure which need to be protected.

'You can only access this beach by walking for half an hour through beautiful Nikau forest, before you turn the corner to hear the sound of the waves and see the golden-sand beach open up before you.

'It is a special, isolated place where people can be in a pristine environment untouched by development. I stand with locals in calling for the protection of New Chum,” says Catherine.