Proposal would ease consent requirements
The New Zealand government, under the guidance of Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters and Housing and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop (pictured above, left to right), has proposed significant changes to streamline the building process for granny flats.
The new proposal, outlined in a discussion document opened for submissions today, aims to allow the construction of structures up to 60 square metres without building or resource consent in rural and residential zones, provided they meet specific criteria.
This move is part of a broader effort to address the country's housing crisis and make housing more affordable, 1News reported.
Impact on families and housing costs
According to Peters, “Over a quarter of households that do not own their home spend more than 40% of their income on housing.”
He said that high housing costs disproportionately affect Māori, Pasifika, people with disabilities, and seniors.
By making it easier to build granny flats, the government hopes to provide more affordable living options for families, enabling different generations and family members with special needs to live independently yet close to each other, 1News reported.
Streamlining the consent process
Bishop said that the proposed changes would remove inconsistencies across district plans and standardise the allowance of granny flats without needing resource consent.
The introduction of a National Environmental Standard (NES) would facilitate this process, ensuring quicker implementation across all councils.
“Many district plans already allow granny flats without resource consent, but there’s a lack of consistency and different standards across the country,” Bishop said.
Economic and regulatory benefits
The government estimates that by removing the regulatory red tape, each granny flat build could save up to $6,500 in standard building and resource consenting fees.
“Not to mention all the savings in time and resource,” Bishop said.
He said that there would be safeguards to ensure that these granny flats meet the expected standards of building performance and quality while managing environmental effects effectively.
Seeking public input
The government is inviting public feedback to refine the policy further.
“We want to hear from everyone who has constructive suggestions that will help us ensure we get the policy right,” Bishop said.
The final policy decisions are expected later this year, with legislative changes planned to be implemented by mid-2025. The discussion document is available here, 1News reported.
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