On Sunday, there will be a special hui in Albertson Ave from 12.30pm until 2pm.
The site was, until earlier this year, set aside for 12 new state houses, but government housing agency Kainga Ora has instead engaged real estate agent Colliers to sell the site.
The sale deadline is October 7.
"Nestled in the picturesque locale of Port Chalmers, just 15 minutes from the Dunedin CBD, but offering a quiet suburban life, this site awaits a proactive developer or investor to take it forward and to take advantage of the lack of level-contour development sites in the wider Dunedin market," the listing said.
West Harbour Community Board member Duncan Eddy expected a decent turnout on the day.
"There’s a lot of genuine upset and anger among the community about this.
"The people were promised the houses; instead it’s probably going to be picked up by a developer who has no intention of housing the community."
The community board has also prepared a petition urging Kainga Ora to reconsider its approach and prioritise for more social housing in Dunedin and the greater Dunedin area.
So far, it has received more than 450 signatures from community members and council and mayoral candidates.
Mayoral candidates Sophie Barker, Andrew Simms, Mandy Mayhem and Mickey Treadwell have all signed the petition calling for Kāinga Ora to stop the sale of state housing land in Port Chalmers.
"It’s been a great show of support so far, but we want to do more," Mr Eddy said.
Earlier this year, Kainga Ora canned 10 separate projects in Dunedin which would have created 120 new homes, including a 42-home development in Carroll St in the city centre.
The agency’s moves came in response to a government review prepared by former prime minister Sir Bill English that said its debt was "unsustainable" and it owned too much land.
Mr Eddy said they should rethink their strategy.
"We're asking Kāinga Ora to stop the sale and front up to the community about the land’s future.
"We need the housing.
"It is close to schools, ECEs, shops, open spaces, doctors, public transport etc. ... but once this land is sold, that's it."
As of June 2025, there were 378 applicants on the Dunedin Housing Register, Dunedin's social housing waiting list.
