David Hay says Twyford and Smith should “pull their heads in” on housing

Media Release 19 May 2016
Responding to proposals made by Labour MP Phil Twyford, reported in the NZ Herald earlier this week, Auckland mayoral candidate David Hay says central government MPs should keep their noses out of Auckland's business.

"The Unitary Plan process should be allowed to run its course, before we start rewriting it" said Mr Hay.

"Hundreds of Aucklanders have made submissions to the Independent Hearings Panel in good faith. They deserve to be properly heard and have their views taken into account, before final decisions are made. Having Members of Parliament, including Hon. Phil Twyford and Hon. Nick Smith promising to over-ride the Unitary Plan process is extremely unhelpful and disruptive. They need to pull their heads in."

"The final decisions on the Unitary Plan may include releasing more greenfields land" said Mr Hay.

"The draft plan proposes a balance between intensification and further expansion. That balance is being debated through the hearings process and has yet to be decided. We should wait for the Council to receive the Hearings panel recommendations, and then make a final decision on them, before jumping to conclusions."

"The push for greenfields expansion suits the needs and interests of particular interests, not necessarily the needs of all Aucklanders" said Mr Hay.

"There is a political 'narrative' in circulation, which blames the current housing shortage on Council and its zoning rules. This narrative suits the interests of some land-bankers, who own rural land at the city margins. It is not the solution to Auckland's housing problems. Phil Twyford should know better than to fall for this line, and I am disappointed that he has."

"The housing problem is complex and deserves a more careful and comprehensive approach." said Mr Hay.

"A recent report by the Auckland Council's chief economist has traversed a variety of factors on both the demand side and the supply side of the housing price and quantity issue. This is a complex problem, which requires joined-up thinking across a number of different parts of central and local government. It is very unhelpful for Members of Parliament, and Government Ministers, to come charging into this debate with simplistic solutions."

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