Love thy neighbour? Not if it's The Block - show fields 111 complaints

Fans queue up outside the site of The Block NZ during the open day in Point Chevalier, Auckland. Photo / Jason Dorday

The Block may be a hit with viewers - but the reality TV show's creators aren't popular with some of the neighbours.

Since filming at the Newell St site in Pt Chevalier started in June, Auckland Council has received 111 complaints on a range of matters including noise and too many sightseers. Of those, 64 breached resource consents and action was taken in five instances.

That's a big jump compared with last year when the TV3 series drew just one complaint during filming in Belmont. There were six complaints in the first season in Takapuna and no consents breaches in the first two seasons.

Despite the numerous complaints this year, information released to the Herald reveals the 111 complaints were made by just five complainants.

Issues included the use of a drone (three complaints), out of hours work (56 complaints), and "shrink wrap blowing in the wind" (two). Ten gripes related to "the number of general sightseers," graffiti and an "increased crime risk". But only five had led to formal council action.

A council spokesman said each complaint was fully investigated and, where appropriate, action was taken.

He said three fines - two of $300 and one of $750 - had been issued, as well as one abatement notice and one formal warning for activity outside of agreed hours.

Production firm Eyeworks was fined rather than TV3's parent company, MediaWorks. A spokeswoman for MediaWorks, Rachel Lorimer, said this year resource consents carried several special conditions because of a nearby school and kindergarten.

"It took longer than expected to educate some of our contractors and subcontractors about these unusual conditions." She said the show had had "fantastic support" from most of the neighbours.