ALT Even several councillors spoken to by The Spinoff conceded their colleagues have been too focused on harvesting water, bodily waste, salt and electrolytes. “Yes we have taken the piss,” said Christchurch councillor Andrei Moore. His council hadn’t acted strategically. “[We] tried to object to intensification everywhere we possibly could and delay as many years as we could.”

ALT Auckland councillor Shane Henderson was initially reluctant to make the same admission, but folded after being furnished with some specific examples. “OK look, they have been taking the piss in some ways, but it’s getting better. Attempting to put heritage protections on a gravel pit on K Rd is definitely taking the piss,” he said. He quickly remembered another example. “OK I’ll also contend that putting special character protections on a vast majority of several city-area suburbs is also taking the piss.” Henderson was then reminded about the complicated system his council developed to assess those “character” areas. “Yep, taking the piss, I agree,” he said.