Judith Collins’ Member’s Bill will put in place emergency powers similar to those used to speed up house building in
Canterbury following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakesNew law would require all urban councils to immediately zone more land for housing – enough for at least 30 years of
expected growthResource Management Act (RMA) appeals process would be limited to ensure these new district plans can be completed and
put in place rapidly$50,000 infrastructure grant would be provided to all local authorities (urban and rural) for every new dwelling they
consent above their five-year historical average
National is proposing an alternative solution to the housing shortage that will urgently address the country’s land
supply problem and help councils fund supporting infrastructure.
Leader of the Opposition Judith Collins has drafted a Member’s Bill that will go into the ballot this week. The draft
legislation will effectively put in place emergency powers similar to those used to ramp up house building in Canterbury
following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.
The law change would also incentivise councils to lift their game by providing a grant of $50,000 for every new dwelling
consented over and above a historical average.
This streamlined mechanism for allocating the Government’s $3.8 billion Housing Acceleration Fund would provide councils
a simple tool for funding the infrastructure needed to support new housing, such as pipes, roads and public transport
stops.
“National doesn’t share Labour’s view that you can tax your way out of a housing shortage,” Ms Collins says.
“The time has come for an extraordinary solution to this unfolding emergency. We need to short circuit the faltering
Resource Management Act to get more houses built.”
These RMA changes will expire after four years, reflecting the fact they are a temporary solution while more fundamental
changes are made to New Zealand’s planning laws. Rural councils would not be compelled to rezone but could utilise the
new powers if they wished.
National’s approach has a proven track record of success in Christchurch where the resulting surge in housing supply
after the earthquakes saw affordability improve while it deteriorated across the rest of the country.
House prices rose by 7.4 per cent annually across New Zealand from July 2014 to March 2019 but only rose by 2.9 per cent
annually in Christchurch during that time.
Ms Collins says swift action is needed to help first-home buyers, with New Zealand’s housing market now the least
affordable in the OECD.
She will be writing to all Members of Parliament to seek their support for her bill to go straight on to the Order
Paper, rather than into the Member’s Ballot.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern could also do the right thing by New Zealanders by adopting this Member’s Bill as
government legislation to help it become law faster, Ms Collins says.
“National is the party of home ownership. We are committed to sensible solutions that will get more New Zealanders into
their own home without hitting them with more taxes.”