Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour and Auckland councillor Christine Fletcher. Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
Correction: An earlier version of this article reported Christine Fletcher was retiring as a councillor. She is not.
Three multi-storey buildings surround Joy Urlich's home in the Auckland suburb of Mount Eden.
"Through my windows, I look right into the toilet and see them using the toilet. I can see them naked. That's how close it is to my house.
"They [the buildings] are blocking our sun. At one time, we could Mt Eden, the Sky Tower. We can't anymore."
Richie Dougal, who also lived in the area, valued the historic character of places like Mt Eden Village to meet the city's housing capacity needs.
"There are plenty of other places that Auckland could put high-rise buildings. It would be a shame to ruin the character of some of the suburbs."
Their views were typical of the more than 100 people who filled Mt Eden Village Centre on Thursday night to hear from Deputy Prime Minister and ACT party leader David Seymour and Auckland councillor and former mayor Christine Fletcher on how the government's plan to allow for two million homes to be built could be met.
Next Wednesday, Auckland councillors will vote on whether to keep what is known as Plan Change 78, which allows for three-storey residential buildings to be put up anywhere in the city. Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
Next Wednesday, Auckland Councillors would vote on whether to keep what is known as Plan Change 78, which allowed for three-storey residential buildings to be put up anywhere in the city.
Or it could go with another option - 10- to 15-storey high-rises around public transport hubs in some central city areas.
Fletcher told attendees that councillors were not on board with the original proposal of three-storey buildings, and it was effectively off the table.
But there was not much support among locals for the council's alternative high-rise proposal either.
Fletcher said the new plan had been rushed and needed more work.
"We do need a replacement plan. We've made this huge investment in rail with the City Rail Link, and we need intensification around our stations.
"The concern I've got is that there are so many errors in the replacement plan because it's been done in such a rush. For a blueprint for Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, we could do a lot better.
"I will be looking to advance an amendment where we take a bit more time, so at least we're showing respect and courtesy to our community and removing the errors before we actually go out for submissions."
She told the crowd she believed some councillors were not speaking out with their views, in fear of upsetting the mayor.
"I think it's unfortunate this process is taking place during elections for local government because there are a lot of other councillors who will privately say that they're very unhappy, but they don't want to get off-side of the mayor, because the mayor will be re-elected, it seems."
Fletcher said she was seeking legal advice.
More than 100 people filled Mt Eden Village Centre on Thursday night. Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
Seymour said that while more housing and development around City Rail Link stations was non-negotiable, parts of the plan could be revised.
"It's about lining up intensification, infrastructure, character, and heritage.
"There are areas where intensification makes a lot of sense. There are parts of Parnell that are industrial where I think people would welcome more residential housing. It's very close to transport and the CBD.
"There are areas around the Mt Eden train station which will soon open as part of the City Rail Link where people would also like to see more intensification.
"I believe we will get to a better place, which will preserve the heritage people value, ensure the infrastructure doesn't break down and lead to more sewage in places we don't want sewage, and allow more homes to be built faster and cheaper so the next generation feels like this country has a place for them, literally."
David Seymour. Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
But another local, Malcolm O'Neill, said even after the meeting, he was not convinced politicians would create a liveable city.
He said it was time to consult people with expertise and a vision for the future, to come up with some intelligent design ideas.
"I'm concerned that we might be having some grey-haired Wellington members of parliament who are living in the 1980s and believe that everyone might migrate daily into the city to work. That might not be our future. It might not require these huge buildings where they think they need to be."
If councillors backed the high-rise proposal, public consultation would start on 3 November and run until 18 December.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
