Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

New report exposes KiwiBuild’s failings


A new report by the New Zealand Initiative’s Dr Bryce Wilkinson comprehensively exposes KiwiBuild as an incoherent mess, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“ACT understands why KiwiBuild exists – it’s a vote-winner. But it’s also a massive distraction from the real issue of land supply.

“Dr Wilkinson shows why KiwiBuild won’t add to the supply of new homes or bring down the cost of housing. And, despite Phil Twyford’s claims to the contrary, it shows the taxpayer is being used to subsidise new homes for relatively well-off New Zealanders.

“The report relies on Treasury modelling to show KiwiBuild is likely to have no effect on house prices or quantities as public investment crowds out private investment. If KiwiBuild removes one homebuyer from the market, the private sector will build one less house.

“Phil Twyford insists KiwiBuild homes are not subsidised. Why, then, Dr Wilkinson asks, does the Government need to ration them via a ballot? If homes are unsubsidised, why would developers participate when they can operate in the private market without all the bureaucratic nonsense?

“The fact is that KiwiBuild houses are a form of welfare – they represent a transfer of wealth from taxpayers to developers and those lucky enough to be successful in the ballot.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“The report recommends what ACT has long campaigned for: the Government should tackle the housing crisis by cutting red tape and supplying more land in order to bring down its cost. This doesn’t require the government to be a builder.

“In 2012, the Productivity Commission found that the value of land just inside Auckland’s metropolitan urban limit was nine times greater than the value of land just outside, showing restrictive land use policies push up house prices.

“2016 Phil Twyford understood this. He said we should remove the metropolitan urban limit and let Auckland city grow. 15 months on from the election, he hasn’t acted on this commitment.

“ACT would remove cities from the Resource Management Act and introduce urban planning legislation focussed on increasing land supply. Urban environments should not be regulated in the same way as undeveloped natural environments.

“We would also share a portion of GST revenue collected from the construction of new housing with councils to incentivise them to approve planning of new homes. The shared revenue would help cover the cost of infrastructure.

“ACT has long campaigned – alone at times – for reducing red tape and increasing land supply. Labour must heed that message if it doesn’t want to share the National Party’s fate.”

ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.