Last year Labour shook up the political landscape with KiwiBuild – a serious plan for addressing the crisis of unaffordable housing in NZ. At the time the Nats and their spinsters were scornful (of course), saying among other things that we couldn’t build 10,000 new homes a year:
Prime Minister John Key said he thought Labour were in “fantasy land” over their proposed policy. …
“They are proposing 10,000 homes a year. I think there were 535 built by the top three residential building companies in Auckland [in a similar timeframe].”
Looks like KiwiBuild has already been a success, however, by scaring the Nats in to producing (in conjunction with Len Brown’s Auckland) a more significant housing policy of their own:
Auckland housing: 39,000 new homes in three years
39,000 in three years? Now my maths isn’t as good as it should be, but isn’t that like, more than 10,000 per year? I hope that those that ranted that Labour’s KiwiBuild couldn’t do it will be making the same criticism here? Oh no, of course not.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown and the Government have struck a deal that will enable 39,000 new houses to be built in the next three years.
The Auckland Housing Accord has been agreed to today by Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Mr Brown to “urgently increase the supply and affordability of housing in Auckland”.
It’s great that this issue is now seriously on both sides of the political agenda.
The legislation, to be introduced to Parliament as part of this year’s Budget, sets a target of 9000 additional residential houses being consented for in Year 1, 13,000 in Year 2, and 17,000 in Year 3. …
The unitary plan sets out to build 280,000 new homes through intensification of urban Auckland and 160,000 new homes in rural areas over the next 30 years.
My my – more than 10,000 a year for more than 10 years. I guess it’s only impossible when Labour propose it.
While it is a step forward, this plan is certainly no KiwiBuild:
Too little, too late from Nats on housing – Shearer
The Government’s housing accord will not solve the country’s housing affordability crisis, and is too little too late, says Labour Leader David Shearer.
“The Government has had almost five years to tackle housing affordability. I welcome the fact they’ve finally woken up to this issue – but National’s proposals don’t go nearly far enough.
“Making more land available for development is a good idea. But by itself, it won’t cut it. It won’t ensure that affordable homes are actually built.
“This announcement is woefully short on detail. It talks about ‘clear requirements’ for affordable housing, but is silent on how many affordable homes will be built and how much they will cost.
“Currently just 5 per cent of new homes built are in the affordable range. There is nothing in today’s announcement that will change that.
“Labour’s KiwiBuild policy is a bricks and mortar solution. Rather than sitting on the side-lines the next Labour Government will oversee the building of 10,000 affordable homes a year right across the country. …
Behind the scenes work continues to make sure that KiwiBuild is ready to go after the next election.
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