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The Spinoff
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Spinoff
The government is fed up with councils taking the piss on housing
An artist's impression of councils' piss-taking apparatus, and Chris Bishop (; design The Spinoff) They've built aqueducts for the piss. A state-of-the-art municipal pipe network purely for transporting the piss. Chris Bishop started his speech at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday paying tribute to an unlikely list of allies. Labour's Phil Twyford deserved 'great credit' for pushing through the pro-housing National Policy Statement on Urban Development in mid-2020. Wellington City councillor and Green Party candidate Rebecca Matthews had the commitment and tenacity to push for a district plan that 'actually supports and enables growth' over the despairing cries of independent commissioners who spent several thousand words arguing a train is not a train . But when it came time to talk about local government at large, the mood soured. It was 'inarguable, and sometimes uncomfortable' that councils had been one of the largest barriers to housing growth in New Zealand, Bishop said. To say they'd dragged their feet on following government instructions to zone for more apartments and townhouses was 'an understatement'. The minister didn't state it outright, but a sophisticated analysis of his speech by The Spinoff has revealed a clear message: councils have been absolutely taking the piss on housing. The NPS-UD, which called for local governments to allow apartments around rapid transit, was passed in 2020. Its successor, the MDRS, which ordered them to zone for up to three townhouses on almost every residential section, was passed in 2021. Several councils have spent large chunks of the years since drilling boreholes to access reservoirs of the piss. Building aqueducts for the piss. Constructing municipal pipe networks entirely for transporting the piss. Image: Getty Images/Tina Tiller The most elaborate systems have been developed in our two largest cities. Auckland, when faced with instructions to upzone places with good access to the city centre and rapid transit, spent months creating a bespoke, legally adventurous system to prevent any development near the villas with good access to the city centre and rapid transit . Its efforts to enshrine 'special character' areas in amber were so clearly contrary to the spirit of the law that one Labour MP who helped write the MDRS spluttered incredulously over the phone when talking about them, repeating 'it's just something they've made up', and 'I don't know where they've dreamed it up'. After spending all its time checking the 'architectural integrity' of renovated villas rather than looking at actual barriers to development such as flood risk, Auckland Council complained it had been forced to upzone flood-prone areas and asked for an extension on implementing the law. Bishop, presumably after giving a sigh like a tomb door swinging open, granted its request . Even these efforts fall short of the creative piss extraction and transportation technology on display in Christchurch, where in 2022 the council pioneered a novel approach to democracy and political authority by simply voting not to follow the law . It followed that with an attempt to introduce new development restrictions on all residential sites to ensure access to the city's special sunlight. Christchurch residents have proved resistant to other regionally specific lawmaking, such as my proposal to tax Aucklanders at a reduced rate to offset the city's high cost of living. Through all of this, council planners have continued to deny developments for myriad creative reasons , including insulting the memory of trains that didn't exist, compromising motorway drivers' connection to a small hill, or sullying the heritage value of a Mobil station and a carpark. Even several councillors spoken to by The Spinoff conceded their colleagues have been too focused on harvesting water, bodily waste, salt and electrolytes. 'Yes we have taken the piss,' said Christchurch councillor Andreij Moore. His council hadn't acted strategically. '[We] tried to object to intensification everywhere we possibly could and delay as many years as we could.' Auckland councillor Shane Henderson was initially reluctant to make the same admission, but folded after being furnished with some specific examples. 'OK look, they have been taking the piss in some ways, but it's getting better. Attempting to put heritage protections on a gravel pit on K Rd is definitely taking the piss,' he said. He quickly remembered another example. 'OK I'll also contend that putting special character protections on a vast majority of several city-area suburbs is also taking the piss.' Henderson was then reminded about the complicated system his council developed to assess those 'character' areas. 'Yep, taking the piss, I agree,' he said. It's clear that Bishop has had it up to here with all this. 'Yes,' he replied In response to a direct, on the record, yes or no question from The Spinoff on whether councils have been taking the piss on housing. In recent months, he's rejected Christchurch council's proposed special sunlight housing exemption, and asked Auckland Council to please for the love of God finally upzone around the City Rail Link that it and the government have just spent nearly $6 billion on. The Spinoff responded with the thumbs up emoji In his speech on Wednesday, he revealed another new tool in the piss-taking prevention toolbox. If the government deems that councils have been negatively impacting 'economic growth, development capacity, or employment', it will be allowed to override their district plans. It's an extreme measure, and one Bishop said would only be in place until larger Resource Management Act reforms are passed. But if councils are offended, they could stand to look out the window at the vast apparatus they built for extracting, processing and distributing the piss across town centres and suburbs. Now they've been ordered to tear down that industrial-scale operation they've spent years constructing, perhaps we can finally build some houses instead.
1News
4 days ago
- Business
- 1News
Govt to give itself power to override councils on housing in RMA changes
The Government will take back power from local councils if their decisions are going to negatively impact economic growth, development or employment. In a speech to business leaders at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Housing and RMA reform minister Chris Bishop has announced Cabinet will insert a new regulation power into the Resource Management Act. Before a minister can use the power they would have to investigate the provision in question, check whether it is consistent with the national direction under the RMA, and engage with the council. Bishop expected the power to only be necessary until the new planning system was in place, but said it was necessary when councils used their power to stop growth. Bishop on Wednesday released a discussion document on how proposed housing rule changes would work in with the government's resource management reforms. ADVERTISEMENT The Gordon Wilson Flats are now a step closer to being demolished. (Source: 1News) "Next year we'll replace the RMA with a new planning system that makes it easier to plan and deliver the housing and infrastructure New Zealand needs. "The new planning system is an enormous opportunity to create a planning system that enables and encourages housing growth," Bishop said. The document provided more details on six planned law changes: The establishment of Housing Growth Targets for Tier 1 and 2 councils New rules making it easier for cities to expand outwards at the urban fringe A strengthening of the intensification provisions in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) New rules requiring councils to enable a greater mixed-use zoning across cities. The abolition of minimum floor area and balcony requirements New provisions making the Medium Density Residential Standards optional for councils. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Auckland's supermarket fire, Trump's threat to Iran, and how a smart watch could make you fitter. (Source: 1News) Last month ministers released proposed sweeping changes to rules covering councils' oversight for public consultation. ADVERTISEMENT Under the proposed Resource Management Act changes, granny flats of up to 70sqm, and papakāinga of up to 10 homes would be allowed without a consent on specific land zones. Papakāinga would also allow commercial activities of up to 100sqm, conservation activity, accommodation for up to eight guests, along with education, health, sports, marae, urupā and māra kai papakāinga of up to 30 homes would be considered a "restricted discretionary" activity, with those of more than 30 units becoming "discretionary" activities.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Saying Yes To Housing Growth
Minister of Housing Minister for RMA Reform New Zealanders have an opportunity to help shape the new planning system replacing the Resource Management Act (RMA) through public consultation on removing unnecessary barriers to housing growth, says Housing and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. 'New Zealand's house prices are among the most expensive in the developed world – a direct result of our current planning system making it too hard for our cities to grow up and out. 'Fixing our housing crisis involves fixing the fundamentals of our housing market - freeing up land for development and removing unnecessary planning barriers, improving infrastructure funding and financing to support urban growth, and providing incentives for communities and councils to support growth. 'Next year we'll replace the RMA with a new planning system that makes it easier to plan and deliver the housing and infrastructure New Zealand needs. 'The new planning system is an enormous opportunity to create a planning system that enables and encourages housing growth. 'Last year I announced the Government had committed to six major legislative changes to help free up land for housing and let our cities grow: The establishment of Housing Growth Targets for Tier 1 and 2 councils New rules making it easier for cities to expand outwards at the urban fringe A strengthening of the intensification provisions in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) New rules requiring councils to enable a greater mixed-use zoning across our cities. The abolition of minimum floor area and balcony requirements New provisions making the Medium Density Residential Standards optional for councils. 'The discussion document I'm releasing today provides further detail on how these changes will operate in practice, and how they'll integrate into the government's resource management reforms. Feedback through the consultation process will be used to shape the development of the new planning system. 'The NPS-UD was a good starting point for strengthening housing growth in cities, but the government is committed to going further to help create competitive urban land markets and abundant development opportunities. The discussion document proposes a range of changes to strengthen the existing rules. 'As I indicated last week, the government is no longer proposing to make the MDRS optional for councils. This is because most councils (with three exceptions) have already changed their plans to include the MDRS, and so it would be inefficient and a waste of time and money to make them potentially change their plans in 2025 and 2026 when the new resource management system will go live in 2027. 'Bespoke legislative solutions have been designed for Auckland and Christchurch, reflected in the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill recently reported back to Parliament. In Auckland's case, it allows the Council to withdraw their existing plan change (PC78) and replace it with a new one, which provides the same level of capacity (or greater) in PC78, as well as strengthened density provisions around City Rail Link stations. 'The discussion document canvasses a range of important issues, including future development strategies and spatial planning, housing growth targets, responsive planning and rural-urban boundaries, intensification, enabling a mix of uses across urban environments and minimum floor area and balcony requirements. 'I encourage New Zealanders to share their views on these important issues by making a submission.' Public consultation on the Going for Housing Growth discussion document opens today at and will run until 17 August 2025. This is early non-statutory consultation and public feedback on will be used to shape the development of the new resource management system. Note:
The Spinoff
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Spinoff
What Chris Bishop's decision on Plan Change 14 means for Christchurch
Minister of RMA reform Chris Bishop has responded to Christchurch City Council's alternative proposals around its district plan. His decisions have consequences for transport and house prices as the southern city grows. Where will future housing growth in Christchurch go? Will new houses be built on the outskirts of the city, or close to the centre? A decision by RMA reform minister Chris Bishop made earlier this month goes some way to answering these questions. Bishop rejected the majority of changes Christchurch City Council had wanted to make to its district plan (called Plan Change 14), which were an alternative to changes that had been recommended by the city's independent hearings panel in 2024. The council had accepted the majority of the panel's recommendations in December 2024, including building heights of 14 metres in all commercial centres, higher limits in certain areas, higher buildings in walking catchments around shopping centres and removing character protections in some areas. But, the council proposed alternatives for 20 of the changes it did not accept, which had to be approved by the RMA minister. One was having ' sunlight access ' as a factor when considering new housing; essentially saying that because of Christchurch's lower latitude compared to cities in the North Island, buildings shouldn't be allowed to be built as high because they would block sunlight for neighbouring homes. Campaigners against the nationwide building height increase in urban areas used the slogan 'stop daylight robbery'. The council proposed lower heights of buildings in Christchurch than the MDRS (Medium Density Residential Standards) mandates, to make the amount of sun access even. Bishop rejected this alternative request, as well as limits to high-density specifications in the suburbs of Riccarton, Linwood and Hornby, which all have big populations and commercial centres as well as historic housing, and therefore good potential for intensification but also residents with concerns about growth. However, he approved three of the suggestions, including further intensification around designated suburban centres like Barrington in Spreydon. Christchurch City Council had initially rejected the previous government's efforts to make intensification rules consistent across the country through the National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) in 2022, wanting a custom approach rather than a national standard. However, despite multiple time extensions, Christchurch eventually had to go through the process of adopting policies 3 and 4 of the NPS-UD, which focus on intensification in urban areas, as well as the MDRS. 'Together, these decisions will enable a greater level of development in and around Christchurch City's urban centres,' said Bishop in a press release announcing his decision. 'This doesn't feel like the best outcome [for our city],' said Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger in a press release responding to Bishop's decision. 'In putting these decisions forward to the government, we obviously wanted to get all of our alternative recommendations approved. So, to only have three of them get the tick is a kick in the guts.' Sara Templeton, a councillor for the Heathcote area who is also running for mayor, said the minister's decision was not unexpected, and now it was time to get on with it. Christchurch needed more housing to accommodate future growth, she said. 'Christchurch is forecast to increase by 30,000 people in the next decade – that's the size of Timaru,' she said. 'We can't keep sprawling onto the productive soils around Christchurch.' Residents associations were supportive of Christchurch City Council having a custom district plan, and disappointed by Bishop's decision. 'If there is a housing supply shortage, it's probably in those sorts of properties in the inner city, which are slowly disappearing,' said Tony Simons, a representative of a group of residents associations, as reported by RNZ. 'What Chris Bishop has decided is to let developers build what they want, pretty much where they want, and that's a shame.' The urbanist group Greater Ōtautahi supported Bishop's decision, saying the changes would allow walkable communities in areas like Riccarton and Papanui; much of the growth is around shopping centres. 'Allowing more homes where people want to live is an important step for the future of Ōtautahi. This means that people are able to live with dignity in a home that is more affordable,' said Greater Ōtautahi chairperson M Grace-Stent in a press release. The whole process raises questions about how local and central government interact, and whether the government is truly embracing 'localism'. 'My preference is for central government to let local gov know the outcomes it wants and hold local government to account for heading in that direction,' Templeton said. This would allow councils like Christchurch to make sure a more 'strategic' approach was adopted as the city intensified housing, ensuring new housing was concentrated in areas where amenities and public transport already existed. 'When we sprawl, it increases rates for residents over time,' said Templeton, who wants transport planning to be aligned with housing intensification. 'Growth in areas without transport means more cars on the outskirts, more driving through neighbourhoods, more traffic at rush hour.' Christchurch City Council hasn't approved the MDRS, and currently has until the end of the year to do so. However, that looks likely to change; a bill revising the current Resource Management Act (RMA) was introduced with a provision that councils could opt out of the MDRS if they had provided for 30 years of housing growth in their district or unitary plans. Followin g Auckland Council's decision not to approve intensification around rapid public transport corridors like the City Rail Link stations, the environment select committee recommended amendments to the bill that would still allow Auckland and Christchurch to opt out of the MDRS, but require them both to follow 'bespoke' processes that would mandate more intensification around urban centres and public transport hubs.
Scoop
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Decisions On Christchurch Intensification Plan
Press Release – New Zealand Government In December 2024, the Council accepted the majority of the Independent Hearings Panels (IHP) recommendations on those parts of Plan Change 14 subject to Policies 3 and 4 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD), Minister … Minister for RMA Reform The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, has today released his decisions on 17 recommendations referred to him by Christchurch City Council on its Intensification Planning Instrument (Plan Change 14). 'In December 2024, the Council accepted the majority of the Independent Hearings Panel's (IHP) recommendations on those parts of Plan Change 14 subject to Policies 3 and 4 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (NPS-UD),' Minister Bishop says. 'These recommendations were incorporated into its district plan. The Council rejected 20 of the IHP's recommendations and referred them, along with its own alternative recommendations, to me for a final decision in early 2025. 'I have carefully considered this matter and taken extensive advice from officials. The law requires that I only consider matters that the IHP could have taken into account when making its recommendations. 'I have made decisions on 17 of the 20 recommendations referred to me by the Council, which relate to a range of issues including qualifying matters, zoning and built form standards. 'Together, these decisions will enable a greater level of development in and around Christchurch City's urban centres as required by Policies 3 and 4 of the NPS-UD. 'I have not made decisions on three recommendations relating to Daresbury House, Antonio Hall and the Piko Residential Character Area. 'I intend to consider these recommendations once the Council has decided on the zoning of these areas. The Council may refer these decisions to me again ahead of deciding on the balance of Plan Change 14. 'I thank the Councillors, the Independent Hearings Panel and Council staff for the work undertaken on the Intensification Streamlined Planning Process so far.' Minister Bishop's decisions, made under Schedule 1 of the Resource Management Act 1991, are final and cannot be appealed to the Environment Court. .
