From giant Buddhas to helipads: How do councils decide what to approve - and does complaining change their minds?

Not In My Back Yard.

For decades, that has been a battle cry for suburbanites and homeowners unimpressed by changes happening in their neighbourhood.

But, how often are those complaints valid, or are they just people unhappy with change?

With both a 16.5 metre tall Buddha statue in Waiwera Valley, and a helipad in Westmere getting people talking, today on The Front Page we’re looking into the resource management process and why some things get approved, and others don’t.

Later, we’ll talk with Associate Professor Caroline Miller from Massey University’s Resource and Environmental Planning Programme.

But first, for details on that giant Buddha statue, we’re talking to NZ Herald senior reporter David Fisher.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.