Lower Hutt mayor Ray Wallace says he will fight for residents in the suburb of Pomare where state houses are being torn down.
The demolition at Farmers Crescent is expected to be completed by Christmas.
On Saturday, members of the Pomare community took over the demolition site, holding a family day to highlight their need for state housing.
Mr Wallace, who joined the rally, says some of the people being affected have lived in Pomare for the past 40 years.
And with Housing New Zealand promising to rebuild only about 20% of the houses, Mr Wallace says he will fight for the people likely to be left homeless.
The mayor says he is meeting Housing Minister Phil Heatley next week.
A community spokesperson, Dina Awarau, says the aim of the family day was to prove there is a vibrant community in Pomare which will soon be destroyed.
She says Housing New Zealand needs to start listening to vulnerable communities like Pomare's.
