A house, once owned by the Sultan of Brunei, in the affluent Auckland suburb of Herne Bay has become the centre of a dispute with community residents divided over whether the new owners should be allowed to build a boatshed.

Some wealthy backers have come out in support of the plan, while others reckon it would be an eyesore.

So why do people care so much about what wealthy people are doing in their backyards? Will this boatshed end up being built? And do communities even stand a chance going up against these well-resourced individuals?

NZ Herald property editor Anne Gibson is on The Front Page today to talk about what we can and can’t build in our backyards.

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The latest controversy over a millionaire's boatshed plans