Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 10:12 am, July 28th, 2016 - 63 comments

Categories: auckland supercity, housing, local government, national - Tags: auckland, housing, housing affordability, housing crisis, unitary plan

Lots of reaction to the Unitary Plan this morning. Much of it positive: Proposals will let Auckland thrive, industry expert says. Some of it focusing on the NIMBY reaction: ‘My wife is in tears, it’s pretty awful’ (expect more of this as the NIMBYs get organised).

One angle which should particularly concern lefties: Maori significance reference deleted from Auckland plan. The link is to RNZ audio but the summary is:

Treaty of Waitangi principles and cultural impact assessments for Maori sites of significance have been removed from the Auckland Unitary Plan. Mihingarangi Forbes reports on how mana whenua fare in the new scheme.

The main problem with the plan, however, has been highlighted by Labour:

Government scuppers affordability requirements The Government must explain why the panel considering Auckland’s unitary plan removed affordability requirements at the behest of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Housing NZ, Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little says. “Labour welcomes the Independent Hearing Panel’s recommendations to substantially free up restrictive controls that are stopping Auckland growing up and out. The pressure is now on Auckland Council to do the right thing, and back the recommendations. “However, it recommended removing the requirement for developments over 15 dwellings to contain 10 per cent affordable houses (report section 6.2.6). It beggars belief the Government asked the panel to scrap affordability requirements when Auckland is desperately short of affordable housing. …

WTF? What are the Nats doing removing a proposed requirement for affordable housing – exactly the housing that Auckland desperately needs!? The only people who benefit from this move are big property developers. Oh – wait…

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