Four people are facing charges, accused of breaking into a house in Auckland to protest against a housing development.

Police say they broke a window and entered the house on Apirana Avenue in Glen Innes this morning.

Senior Sergeant Ian Chapman says they've been charged with wilful damage and unlawfully being in a building.

"Police will always respect the right for people to protest peacefully, however in this instance they've clearly crossed the line. They've damaged someone's private property and as a result we've taken the action of arresting those people and placing them before the court."

The house is part of the Northern Glen Innes Redevelopment.

The development has been contentious among locals, after some state housing tenants had to move in order to make way for the new homes.