The public has been blocked from a hugely popular coastal walkway, because of a stoush between the council, and a property owner.
The Takapuna to Milford coastal walk runs through the Firth family property in Milford.
Paul Firth allowed the public to freely walk through his property after a public bridge was washed out in storms 12 years ago.
In 2013, Auckland Council gave the small cottage on the land a Category A heritage status, meaning it can't be demolished and developed.
The inheritors of the property say they will gift the land the public walks through to the council - but only if the heritage status of the cottage is removed so the property can be developed.
A year on, there's still no resolution, so the owners have put up a fence, blocking any public access through their property.
The lawyer acting for the property owners, Alex Witten-Hannah, says it doesn't make sense for the cottage to be listed as a heritage building.
