Media Release
13 December 2013
Government Making Progress on Housing
Property Council is pleased with the Government’s decision to extend Special Housing Areas beyond Auckland.
According to housing minister, Nick Smith, Christchurch, Wellington, Porirua, Tauranga, Upper Hutt and Western Bay of
Plenty are all joining the accord.
This is excellent news for the country as it battles housing availability, unaffordability, and overheated markets –
coming as relief in a suffocated housing climate.
Property Council especially agrees with the Minister’s comments on Christchurch being “particularly challenging” with
large scale earthquake damage to houses.
As such, the Housing Accord will provide real action, targets and accountability to relieve the respective regions’
housing squeeze.
Property Council chief executive Connal Townsend agrees with the Minister’s points on population growth in Tauranga and
Western Bay of Plenty.
“With projected population growth of 64,000 over the next 20 years, we think the Government has its finger on the pulse
of managing the country’s housing problem.”
ENDS