Climate change activists are expecting up to 500 people to close off a small section of central Auckland's main street on Saturday.
Auckland's Climaction Coalition says it is following in the footsteps of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King with a "civil disobedience carnival".
Coalition spokeswoman GinBarker said today that the rally, which would affect the section of Queen St near Aotea Square, would start at 1pm and go on through the afternoon.
"When it will finish will depend on the day," she said.
"We're going to have a carnival with performers, like kapa haka groups and drummers.
"It will be a nice family atmosphere where children can do art work and we'll have an area where people can discuss issues."
Ms Barker said not enough was being done in New Zealand about climate change and the coalition wanted the country's leaders to take urgent steps to tackle the problem.
She said Saturday was a global day of action, with events occurring in many different cities around the world ahead of United Nations climate talks in Nairobi, Kenya, beginning on Monday.
The Queen St rally, which would include a public debate, was aimed at highlighting society's reliance on the oil industry and the need for alternatives to the car culture.
While the coalition didn't have strict approval to close off part of road, it was liaising with police over the matter.
"We want them to know we are not trying to cause trouble," she said.
"We will also have cones and signage so drivers will know where to go. We don't want to aggravate drivers."
Auckland Regional Council member Robyn Hughes, who will be at the rally, said free and frequent public transport was one response to climate change, which had become the main threat to the survival of mankind.
