A coalition of groups has appealed to Auckland Councillors to limit the ability of its port company to reclaim more of the Waitemata Harbour.
The seven groups have told councillors at the start of a debate this morning, that greater care should be taken of the harbour.
Councillors will decide behind closed doors whether to relax their stance against reclamation without a full resource consent process.
Ports of Auckland wants to extend Bledisloe Wharf a further 135 metres into the harbour.
The council has to finalise its view ahead of deliberations by an independent planning tribunal considering the city's Unitary Plan, which will be the city's planning rule book.