More than 400 residents turned out at a meeting to protest against Government plans to build a secondary school for troubled youths in their east Auckland suburb.
Thurston Place College will take up to 100 students who have behavioural problems and are in Child Youth and Family care.
The college is to be built near two decile nine schools; Pigeon Mountain Primary and Bucklands Beach Intermediate.
Some of the residents at a meeting on Tuesday said they were scared that young children at the existing schools could be bullied and attacked by students at the new college.
The Ministry of Education apologised for not having consulted locals but said construction will go ahead.
