Media release: Government on right track with housing moves
Wellington (27 January 2016): Public policy think tank The New Zealand Initiative commends Prime Minister John Key’s statements on housing in his State of the Nation speech delivered today.
Dr Oliver Hartwich, executive director of the Initiative said that Key’s stance on Auckland housing is promising, and looks to relieve some of the pressures of the ongoing housing crisis.
Key’s State of the Nation speech reported that a predicted 80,000 extra homes will be built in Auckland in the six years to 2020.
“We at the Initiative have long argued that Auckland’s housing crisis is due to a lack of supply; we simply need to build more. Key’s announcement today that there will be a focus on building more houses in Auckland over the next few years is much needed.”
Dr Hartwich also commended the move to improve the Resource Management Act.
“The recent move to reform the Resource Management Act is also vital in working towards solving Auckland’s housing supply problem” he said. “We need to allow houses to be built, and to be built quickly with minimal regulatory hurdles.”
Key also announced that the government is identifying surplus Crown land that can be freed up for housing, which Dr Hartwich said was well overdue.
The New Zealand Initiative’s report Priced Out looks at contributing factors to New Zealand’s housing affordability problems, including regulatory hurdles, a lack of development, and artificial restrictions on land supply.
ENDS
Dr Oliver Hartwich is available for comment.
About The New Zealand Initiative
The New Zealand Initiative is an evidence-based think tank and research institute, which is supported by a membership organisation that counts some of the country’s leading visionaries, business leaders and political thinkers among its ranks.
Our members are committed to developing policies to make New Zealand a better country for all its citizens. We believe all New Zealanders deserve a world-class education system, affordable housing, a healthy environment, sound public finances and a stable currency.
The New Zealand Initiative pursues this goal by participating in public life, and making a contribution to public discussions.
For more information visit www.nzinitiative.org.nz