A former prime minister is being accused of aggressive and bullying tactics as a coastal community north of Wellington grapples with a plan to address the impacts of climate change.
Jim Bolger has been tasked with community consultation through a series of public meetings in Kapiti on managed retreat and the council's project to map coastal erosion and sea level rise.
At one, he suggested locals were too influenced by conspiracy theories, which didn't go down well with the crowd who are worried about what will happen as extreme weather threatens their community.
Things have become so heated, the District Council has reminded Bolger of the need to remain impartial.
Kate Green reports.
