Nelson City Council hosted a public meeting this evening to discuss the plan change that allows for 3 and 6 story buildings to be built in the city centre.

The meeting started with an introduction from the mayor, a karakea, and then a 25 minute presentation on what is included in the plan change. When the map of zone changes was displayed on the projector screens, most of the audience studied it intently as if it was the first time that they had seen it. This is when I realised what this meeting was and I almost got up and left but I am glad that I stayed until the free sushi at the end.

After the presentation, the meeting was opened for questions and then after questions the mayor would accept statements. Some members of the public were emotionally charged and used the question time as a platform to air their grievances before fumbling to spin it into a question at the last moment; generally including “What was the rationale for INSERT GRIEVANCE HERE?”

I can’t remember a time I have been in a room full of so many white people with white hair misbehaving so badly. There were people talking out of turn, not following directions, and yelling random meme sound bytes like “World Economic Forum” and “2030”.

One concerned citizen got some serious side-eye from an older fellow when, asking a question she neatly wrapped up a meandering stream of thoughts by invoking the holocaust to equate the proposed plan change to the “mishandled” covid response.

Even when the words managed to be coherent and diplomatic the emotion would come through in the shaking voice or an angry tone.

There were a few good statements. The best question was: “Why would someone invest in solar panels on their roof if someone can come along and build a building that blocks their sunlight?”

I had to prevent myself from laughing quite a few times during the evening and I am still smiling just remembering all of this. The funniest statement was when one older woman actually used the words “my house that I’ve worked so hard for”.

The general consensus was that these folks were completely against any plan that promotes intensification. People attacked it from all angles and demanded evidence and long-running expensive consultations. Housing affordability was raised briefly by a 17 year old that had the guts to get up and speak in front of the fervent grey power mob.

All in all, it was really fun to be there. I would definitely go again and I will definitely be making a submission to support housing intensification, removing heritage status from more buildings that don’t meet the requirements, and supporting the required changes that come from central government.

The submission date was pushed back so now we have an extra 6 weeks to put together a comprehensive case.