"The whole debate was embarrassing"
Despite receiving criticisms from organisations and other political parties, Labour and National continue to reject suggestions to improve their joint housing policy, according to ACT New Zealand (ACT).
This year, Labour and National worked together to propose housing reforms to boost supply across New Zealand and cut the red tape blocking housing development. However, the Environment Committee that examined the policy returned it without any amendments despite receiving industry feedback.
Now, ACT has stated that Labour and National rejected its suggestion to replace the Medium Density Residential Standard (MDRS) that both parties proposed with the familiar Mixed Housing Suburban Zone widely used in Auckland.
ACT leader David Seymour explained that the Mixed Housing Suburban Zone has design standards that will stop someone building three three-storey houses next door with a floor-to-ceiling window on the third floor looking into other people’s bedrooms.
Commenting on the discussion, Seymour said: “The whole debate was embarrassing, with Minister David Parker saying he had no role in deciding zoning under the bill, [and] then having to stand up and explain what roles he does in fact have.
“They showed a woeful lack of understanding at points in the debate. It was pointed out that they are going to nullify even Kainga Ora’s urban design standards and the NZ Super Fund’s Investments. Master plan developments will also be undermined by the legislation.”
Read more: ACT slams National and Labour for joint-housing policy update
Seymour has been describing the process as “half-baked” since the beginning of the month, stating: “New Zealanders deserve better than Labour and National rushing it through Parliament under the cover of COVID-19 and Christmas.
“If Labour and National continue to rush the legislation, and changes aren’t made, the secret housing deal risks becoming KiwiBuild 2.0.”
Sentinel Planning, a town planner turned developer, offered the same sentiments in a recent statement – emphasising that there is no justification for the pre-Christmas rush to pass the joint housing policy.
“Given this legislation will affect our nation’s suburban outlook for many generations to come, there is a need for careful and considered lawmaking,” said Sentinel Planning managing director Simon O’Connor.
“What we have here is New Zealand’s two main political parties rushing through the House a law that is ill-considered and problematic on several levels. This law will provide short-term gains with long-lasting regrets.”
O’Connor noted that the Environment Committee received 900 submissions, many of which were hastily constructed due to the short timeframe for public feedback. However, the bill was still returned without any changes.
“It is not possible the submissions could have been properly digested and considered with the due diligence deserved," he added.
“Rushed law is bad law, and the problem with getting legislation as important as this wrong is that it will be too late down the track to reverse it as the building of relative slums will have already commenced.”
