May 30, 2023
Housing intensification spurs fightback
Northland candidate Shane Jones says New Zealand First would welcome the prospect of changes to the housing intensification regime.
National has announced it would scrap the rules it negotiated with Labour that allow up to three homes of up to three storeys, to be built on most sites in major cities, without the need for a resource consent.
In an effort to salvage the new medium density settings, Housing Minister Megan Woods says Labour was open to tweaks to the standards.
Mr Jones, a former minister for building and construction, says both major parties got it wrong, and existing communities and neighbourhoods should have a say in the future character and coherence of where they live.
“We’ve had that situation arise in Kerikeri – the local community stood up and fortunately I was able to play a role there and Kainga Ora have put their plans on hold there. I warned them in February 2021, do not bring your architectural carbuncles, your building warts to Kerikeri,” he says.
Mr Jones says rather than brownfields developments everywhere, New Zealand First wants to see the building of satellite cities with good railway connections.