A plan to build hundreds of new homes in a rural valley five minutes from the centre of Nelson city, has triggered a petition and a wave of placards against it.
Meanwhile a housing shortage in the area is leaving companies struggling to house new recruits, and is pricing many out of the market.
Opponents of the housing plan for an area off the Maitai Valley took their 'keep the valley rural' message to the city council today.
Here's RNZ Nelson reporter Tracy Neal with the story.
