Bill English on the Right Path to Relieve the Housing Crisis

Media Release

27 June 2014

Bill English on the Right Path to Relieve the Housing Crisis

Property Council applauds the Finance Minister’s comments that central and local governments must come together to better understand the property and development sectors to rectify issues.

Bill English spoke at a Property Council political forum in Auckland this morning where he reiterated the need for in-depth collaborative work to address New Zealand’s housing crisis.

Mr English said the Government plans to engage in dialogue with the property industry to encourage more participation in property management and to benefit from the sector’s experience in financial and operational risk management.

The Minister pointed to the benefits of PPPs in delivering high value at lower costs and importing intellectual capital out of processes.

The Minister made a timely reference to the ripple effect of local government decisions throughout the country by what he called “planning that is wilfully ignorant of economics and cost.”

He cited onerous planning regulations which would raise costs in the housing market, increase interest rates and hold up the NZ dollar, detrimentally affecting exporters and consequently impacting the whole economy.

Property Council strongly agrees with the Minister’s statement to help better grow local economies by obtaining a deeper understanding of regional issues.

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