The housing challenge – what is Government saying today?

Nick Smith has written to four developers since mid-2015 saying he is keen to see progress in Special Housing Areas and strongly encourages them to contact the Auckland Council with an update. Denies that’s giving land bankers a free pass.

“The people who promise they are going to get rid of landbanking are dreamers, because it isn’t possible.”

Patrick Gower: In a week or so, average house prices in Auckland look set, or they really will, hit $1 million. That comes as the Government’s housing accord and special housing areas are due to make way for the new rules of the council’s unitary plan. But have these measures really worked to open up supply, or has it just meant more land banking? Well, Housing Minister Nick Smith joins me now. We appreciate him being here. Nick Smith, that $1 million average price rise – that makes you the $1 million minister. What’s the good bit about that?

Read more of the interview here.

Meanwhile , in an interview on Radio New Zealand this morning the Prime Minister, John Key, commented that the Government may make some more announcements on social housing before the end of the year. See the interview here.