UPDATE 1.33PM: Veteran Auckland activist Penny Bright will refuse to leave her house, despite losing a court battle to keep it over unpaid rates.

The High Court has confirmed Auckland Council can sell her Kingsland home to recover unpaid rates and penalties dating back more than 10 years.

The sale date is the 24th of April, but Bright says she's not going anywhere.  

"I am fighter, I am scrapper, and that what I'm fighting for is not just for me. I'm fighting for the lawful transparency in public spending."

Bright stopped paying rates in 2007 and as of June 2015, owed the council just over $34,000 in unpaid rates and penalties.

The council says the sale of the house is a last resort and comes after the council has exhausted all other avenues to resolve the matter.

"We have written to Ms Bright on a number of occasions and met with her in January in order to discuss payment options. Despite this, Ms Bright has continued to refuse to pay her outstanding rates bill, or arrange a payment plan," he said.

"While it's unfortunate that we have reached this next step, the council needs to remain fair to the thousands of Aucklanders who do pay their rates."

Ms Bright has been conducting what she calls a "one-person rates revolt" by not paying her council rates.
She argues the local body isn't transparent or held to proper account for its spending.

If the council and Ms Bright cannot reach an agreement by the time the sale is finalised, the income from it would be used to recover the rates, penalties and other costs owed to the council and courts.

The remainder of the proceeds would then be released to Ms Bright through the Public Trust.