People opposing a housing development next to an historic reserve in Mangere say they are fighting an unfair battle with a property giant.
Fletcher Residential wants to build up to 480 houses in a designated Special Housing Area next to the Ōtuataua Stonefields reserve.
The company is presenting its application today at an Auckland Council building in Manukau, and lobby group Save Our Unique Landscape is protesting outside the venue.
A spokesperson, Pania Newton, said the group wanted to remind Fletchers of the opposition to the development.
Most locals wanted to keep the reserve as open public space and she hoped the council would honour that, she said.
Fletcher defended its consultation process, saying it was consulting with Māori leaders, who had a mandate to represent their iwi, and had already taken advice from Heritage New Zealand.
It said a third of the land would be kept as public space, and there would be a buffer zone to protect the reserve.