New zoning rules in Auckland will have a fundamental impact on the face of the city, a lobby group says.
Tens of thousands of properties are to be rezoned to allow the building of multiple townhouses and apartments. The council is not planning to notify homeowners of the change.
Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Auckland 2040 spokesman Richard Burton said significant areas which had been protected for a long time would now be open to high density development.
Fundamental changes were proposed to the single house zone. "That zone covers the area ... predominantly of single family housing on leafy suburbs so it covers a swathe of Auckland from Howick, St Heliers, right through Remuera, Mt Eden, Sandringham, across the North Shore.
Higher density housing was appropriate around areas like major aerterial routes, but the planned change went much further - and affected not just the leafy suburbs.
"The essential character of Auckland is being threatened here, and that will affect every Aucklander.
"We're not talking about NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) syndrome, we're talking about an effect over the whole of Auckland.
Listen to Richard Burton