Two million potential houses. At least two million potential complaints.

Auckland Council’s policy and planning committee is meeting today to vote on a new plan that would zone for two million homes, primarily around train stations and rapid bus routes. The plan is a response to legislation put forward by housing minister Chris Bishop, who has allowed the council to opt out of an ambitious, bipartisan 2023 townhouse law, but forced it to allow at least as many houses as would have been there before.

It’s been controversial. Some councillors say we don’t need to zone for that much housing. Act leader David Seymour has raised concerns about inadequate infrastructure for apartments in inner city suburbs like Parnell. It’s unclear exactly what these opponents want, but some are murmuring about pulling a Christchurch and simply refusing to follow the government’s legislation. Others will at least try to keep as many apartments as possible out of richer, inner-city suburbs like Mt Eden, Parnell, Herne Bay, and Grey Lynn.

Advocates for the plan, including mayor Wayne Brown, argue the council can’t just opt out of following the government’s legislation. They say councillors can either adopt it, or go back to the townhouse bill which allowed three houses of three stories on almost every section, including on flood plains. They argue it’s better to build in places with pipes and public transport routes, rather than in greenfields areas with no infrastructure on the outskirts of the city. We’re updating live as the two factions go head to head in the council chambers from 10am.