It’s important for all Aucklanders that the council seeks expertise on the cultural impact of its projects.

A burial site was discovered beside this North Shore bottle store. There is already protection for sites of significance but the plan extends their reach. Photo / Sarah Ivey

A burial site was discovered beside this North Shore bottle store. There is already protection for sites of significance but the plan extends their reach. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Rules are all about balance – making sure bad things don’t happen, without getting in the way of the good, the new, the fun or the functional. Just ask any police officer, teacher or parent.

The same goes for planning Auckland’s future. There are so many awesome things we want to protect. Our beaches, harbours, heritage buildings, environment and cultural heritage. But sometimes protection can get in someone’s way – and over the past 18 months we’ve seen people passionately arguing very different sides of various debates about Auckland’s planning rules.

Some of those arguments are pretty simple: people either like mangroves, or want to clear them, or they’re not that bothered. Others are much more complicated. The council’s role has been to get the balance right – give protection while helping Auckland grow and thrive, with people free to do things they should be able to do.

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