Heavy! The government will lower Auckland’s housing construction target, and the development density in various places will change dramatically!

New Zealand Chinese Herald website comprehensive report on home security Housing Minister Chris Bishop will today announce a reduction in Auckland’s target of two million homes under new planning rules. This plan has previously caused widespread controversy.

Sources revealed that the new target is 1.6 million units, which includes adjustments to the development capacity of the city center.

Last month, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Bishop announced that the government would weaken regulations related to urban densification. Bishop said at the time the government was evaluating different options for housing capacity targets.

Bishop will speak in Auckland at noon today. He is expected to emphasize focusing development on the CBD, around City Rail Link stations and other major transport corridors, while reducing development intensity in non-city center areas and unveiling new, lower housing construction targets.

Last month, political columnist Matthew Hooton wrote that this policy shift was intended to prevent ACT, New Zealand First and Labor from using this issue to win votes from the National Party in this year’s general election.

Hooton said National’s strategic advisers were aware that the “two million” figure had become the focus of criticism.

Thousands of Auckland residents have spoken out over the government’s plans to densify the city. The plan theoretically sets aside space for up to 2 million potential homes, while also tightening development restrictions in flood-prone areas.

At a packed public meeting in Luxon’s Botany electorate in December last year, many called on the government to withdraw its target of two million homes. Howick councilor Bo Burns said it was not only residents of East Auckland who were worried, but also similar voices in traditional National Party support areas such as Ōrākei, Mt Eden and Franklin.

Former National cabinet minister and current Howick ward councilor Maurice Williamson warned the issue was fueling public dissatisfaction and could cost the National Party votes at the November election.

“This cannot continue. They have to change the two million number,” he said.

Waitākere councilor Shane Henderson, who supports increasing housing supply, urged the government to stick with the planning process currently underway. The Coalition for More Homes also expressed serious concerns about the government’s backing down on Plan Change 120. The plan was developed by the city council to coincide with new planning rules.

Spokesperson Scott Caldwell said cutting the two million homes target would impact Auckland’s housing affordability.

Mayor Wayne Brown said the government must be careful when changing planning rules or risk having to reinvent the entire process.

Auckland’s densification plans are backdated to 2021. At that time, the Labor government, with the support of the National Party, introduced the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS). The policy allows up to three, three-storey homes to be built on most residential sites in Auckland, hence the name “3×3” rule.

The city council introduced Plan Change 78 in 2022 to implement the MDRS but scrapped the plans last year after accepting an alternative proposed by Bishop. The alternative would focus development along transport corridors while still leaving capacity for around 2 million homes.

The decision paved the way for Plan Change 120, which was launched last October. The plan also limits development on about 12,000 properties deemed to be at risk of flooding or landslides.

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