KEY POINTS:
A map showing the proposed location of houses that can be demolished in heritage suburbs is being kept hidden from the public.
Auckland City planners have prepared the draft map showing which pre-1940 houses get protection and which can be demolished following a street-by-street review of the Residential 2 zone.
The zone covers old and established suburbs such as Remuera, Herne Bay, One Tree Hill, Parnell, Kohimarama and St Heliers.
Last night, Remuera Heritage spokeswoman Jenny Hayman called on the council to release the map so residents could learn the fate of their neighbourhoods and participate in a public debate.
The map is part of a fresh look at excluding some streets from new heritage controls following a legal challenge by three Remuera lawyers to blanket controls in those eastern and central suburbs.
Planners have put the map in the confidential section of a city development committee meeting on Wednesday. It is understood parties to the legal challenge have been asked to sign indefinite confidentiality agreements to stop the map appearing in the Herald. One of those parties said confidentiality could stifle public debate through the media and court process and lead to a secret deal.
"There should be media coverage. It is a public issue."
In March, the Herald revealed a previous secret deal between the council and lawyers to allow the demolition of up to 7600 homes. Mayor John Banks intervened at the eleventh hour to stop the deal.
Weeks later, the council began the review to exclude some streets from heritage protection in the hope of bolstering the council's case at the Environment Court.
Legal opinion showed the council could be in big trouble at the Environment Court by sticking with a blanket approach.
Mr Banks said he had not seen the committee report or map, but said the public would "definitely" be consulted on the proposed areas left in and taken out for heritage protection in Residential 2 suburbs.
"I'm not into secret deals with rich and powerful lawyers of Remuera.
"I am interested in looking after the best interests of the architectural heritage of this city and negotiating a position that is sustainable in the Environment Court. I want to get a solution that the wider community can live with and the appellants [lawyers] can live with legally."
