Press Release
ISSUED BY AFFORDABLE AUCKLAND

Colin Craig Promises Land Grabs

“New Zealand’s political village idiot Colin Craig plans to surpass New Zealand First’s vote in the next election by putting forward even more extreme success-hating populist schemes than Winston Peters; if his latest interview with TV3 is anything to go by,” says Affordable City Leader Stephen Berry.

“While he is somewhat on the money in saying urban boundaries in Auckland need to be extended, Affordable City says they should be abolished completely and private property owners be left to decide upon how they use their land,” Berry says. “However Affordable City and the Conservative Party completely part ways on Craig’s plans to give property developers five years to develop their land or he will invoke the Public Works Act to acquire their property for development on behalf of the state.

“National should be very concerned about the prospects of entering into coalition with a supposed right-winger who wants to resurrect the very worst excesses of Muldoonist Think Big socialism. Disrespect for private property rights is one of the main reasons housing in Auckland and Wellington is becoming increasingly unaffordable. Further government largess will only make this worse.”

Stephen Berry also adds that Craig’s comments regarding developer profits are especially hypocritical when Craig says, "At the moment they have bought sections for 30 grand and they are selling them for over 400 and they just don't need that much money." Berry asks, “Who the hell does this multi-millionaire think he is when he passes judgement on other people for how much money others may need or want? I’m sure that not all property developers have expensive loony tunes political parties to develop but the last person that should be passing judgements on the wealth of others is Colin Craig.”

Affordable City ran in the last local body election on a platform of affordable housing. The party’s proposals included a reduction in rates, elimination of council borrowing within three years, streamlining the resource consents process, removing the ability of non-affected persons to object to the granting of building consent, abolishing the urban limit and respecting private property rights.

Stephen Berry stood as Affordable Auckland’s candidate for Mayor of Auckland.. He achieved 13,560 votes and finished, like Colin Craig in 2010, in third place.

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