Dealing with Auckland’s Growth Paramount to Prosperity

Property Council is concerned some community groups are standing against the intensification of residential development in Auckland in numerous areas.

Auckland’s projected population growth is inevitable and catering for this must be taken seriously, if Auckland is to avoid losing its status as New Zealand’s principal city.

According to Statistics NZ, Auckland will be inhabited by nearly two million people in 2031, accounting for 61 per cent of the entire country’s population growth. That would place Auckland as the home of 38 per cent of New Zealand’s population.

The repercussions of failing to house this population adequately will have disastrous consequences with new communities having to be forced out into rural areas and possibly environmentally significant habitats.

According to Massey University’s quarterly Home Affordability Report, home affordability has deteriorated by 7.6 per cent during the 12 months ending May 2014.

In Auckland, affordability has deteriorated by 9.1 per cent.

Property Council Chief Executive Connal Townsend says for Auckland to retain and increase its economic vibrancy, it must be able to attract skilled workers, entrepreneurs and offer desirable lifestyle choices.

“Pushing people out on to rural boundaries away from commercial centres in the name of avoiding high rises is not rational. With people, jobs and economic activity go as well, taking vibrancy and desirability.

The Auckland Proposed Unitary Plan (PAUP) must not be too onerous with its policies and provisions which result in making development an expensive and risky business.”

Community groups need to think more broadly than merely protecting their own interests and established suburbs from change. Housing the city’s young people and new inhabitants and Auckland’s economic prosperity are key.

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