Well-known activist Penny Bright has told 1 NEWS that she could have ovarian cancer and is asking for the forced sale of her home to be halted.
The Auckland resident was admitted to hospital with bloating and abdominal pain, where doctors drained nearly five litres of fluid from her stomach.
Ms Bright says she had a biopsy and the results are expected back in a week.
The health scare comes as Auckland Council puts Ms Bright’s Kingsland home on the market to recover her unpaid rates bill, which is in excess of $35,000.
Ms Bright broke down in tears as she questioned why the council needed to proceed, asking it to show compassion and delay selling her home.
"What has I done to deserve this?" she said.
"All I’ve been trying to do is get the council to comply with the law so we know where our rates money is being spent."
Ms Bright has refused to pay her rates for more than a decade in an attempt to get the council to be more transparent, including how contracts are awarded.
Auckland Council’s chief financial officer Matthew Walker says this type of action has happened just once before in the super city’s seven-year history.
"This is not a process we want to get into with any Auckland resident or ratepayer. We certainly hope we can settle Ms Bright’s rates account ahead of any sale of her property."
Mr Walker said that the council will meet with Ms Bright tomorrow to try to find a solution before the deadline of 4pm on Tuesday.
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