Auckland Council has spent over half a million dollars and is engaged in a legal battle with itself in a bid to build a controversial seawall in Orewa.
The council had applied to itself, as the consenting authority, to build a 600m seawall in the northern part of the beach.
However an independent panel of commissioners rejected the resource consent application last December.
In its decision the commissioners said a "hard structure", such as a seawall, should only be a "last resort". If built, it would adversely affect coastal processes, public access, natural character and the appearance of the area.
![Auckland Council is taking itself to court in a bid to build a seawall at the northern end of Orewa Beach. Photo / supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/3OEWNKEET4BVWEB2PDWNQJBML4.jpg?auth=f00a95ee4081ced3f56f8d7e807603ec92921b34a39e7894b3eb5b8c494de7c0&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)