New Zealand will radically ease zoning rules to try to relieve its stubborn housing shortage

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy New Zealand will drastically ease zoning restrictions in a bid to “flood the market” with land for homes and override the powers of local councils to curb development, the nation's housing minister said in announcing reforms to what he called one of the world’s least affordable housing markets. “Let’s get away from the idea that planners can plan our cities and let actual individuals and families decide how they live their lives.” The new measures would require local councils — which decide what land in New Zealand is used for — to free up “bucketloads” of additional space for housing development, Bishop said. “It’s very easy for local councils to say no to growth because their residents don’t want it, because they don’t benefit from it, but the costs of those decisions are falling on central government,” said Stuart Donovan, a housing economist with the New Zealand thinktank Motu, who was speaking from Brisbane, Australia. “But I think there is a general recognition that things have gotten so far out of kilter that something has to change.” The new measures would not flatten the market, Eaqub said; New Zealand’s shortage of homes was so great that it would still take decades to resolve.