"Elected councillors seem to have been led by the nose.
"(Former Labour MP) Shane Jones denounced the proposed Unitary Plan provisions ... when they emerged, but since then there has been silence from others who should be leading on the issue.
"Ordinary people like me have to call for adherence to simple and fundamental democratic rights and traditions," Mr Short said.
Council chief planning officer Dr Roger Blakeley has defended cultural impact assessments, saying they are part of protecting Auckland's cultural heritage.
He told the Herald this month that in the past six months, fewer than 200 of 6000 resource consents have triggered a possible cultural impact assessment. There had been 50 site visits and 12 assessments had been formally requested.
Property magnate Sir Bob Jones and constitutional lawyer Stephen Franks will be speaking at the October 18 meeting at the Aotea Centre at 1pm.
On the web: www.democracyaction.org.nz