Consent figures prove National lacks spine on housing

Reports today that building consent numbers are falling confirms what ACT has been saying all along: the Government’s initiatives to boost housing supply are paper tigers, because the Government doesn’t really care.

“National thought that rising residential property values would help them electorally,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Given the average National MP owns 2.3 houses it would be amazing if they ever put in place policies that reduced the value of those assets.

“Appointing three housing ministers was not a sign of strength but of confusion. The fundamental reforms that are necessary, endorsed by housing expert Leonie Freeman, the New Zealand Initiative, and Local Government New Zealand, were set out in David Seymour’s state of the nation speech.

"Our policies acknowledge that the housing crisis is not a failure of the market but a failure of government.

“First, we would take cities out of the Resource Management. It’s ridiculous that the same planning regime that applies to Fiordland also applies to Central Auckland.

“Second, we would give local councils and incentive to approve new housing by letting them keep a portion of the GST revenue from new builds.

“Third, we would replace the building industry’s existing red tape with private insurance, which would incentivise safe innovation in affordable building practices.

“Only ACT is committed to tackling the fundamentals of the housing shortage. Only a vote for ACT will put these policies in place and restore housing affordability.”

ENDS

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