John Key’s comments that young Aucklanders should look to buy apartments instead of houses on quarter acre sections show that he wouldn’t make a very good real estate agent because he clearly doesn’t know his market, the Green Party said. “Most young Aucklanders I talk to long ago gave up on the idea of a quarter acre section and would be happy with an apartment for their first home,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said. “The problem is apartments get...

GovtThe National Government is choosing to protect the profits of a few land bankers rather than create real incentives to build houses in Auckland, the Green Party said today. Thousands of listings for land in Auckland are now advertised for their potential as land banks. Land banking has also been allowed in the Government’s Special Housing Areas (SHAs) where there hasn’t been any building activity in 97 of the 157 Auckland SHAs. “National won’t make the tough decisions to stop...

GovtThe National Government is choosing to protect the profits of a few land bankers rather than create real incentives to build houses in Auckland, the Green Party said today. Thousands of listings for land in Auckland are now advertised for their potential as land banks. Land banking has also been allowed in the Government’s Special Housing Areas (SHAs) where there hasn’t been any building activity in 97 of the 157 Auckland SHAs. “National won’t make the tough decisions to stop...

National’s claim that record numbers of houses are being built is nonsense, the Green Party said today. New analysis from Statistics New Zealand shows that the number of new houses being consented relative to population is barely above average. “When John Key says record numbers of houses are being built, he’s just plain wrong,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei. “Statistics NZ data is very clear that only half as many houses are being built now compared to the 1970s...

A new poll shows New Zealanders have grasped the realities of the housing crisis better than the Prime Minister and his Government, the Green Party said today. New data from UMR shows that 85 percent of Aucklanders say there is a housing crisis, and 60 percent of Aucklanders and 55 percent of home-owners nationwide believe house prices should come down. “It’s clear that most New Zealanders know National has let Auckland house prices get out of control and it’s now...

National’s Special Housing Area (SHA) policy is in tatters after revelations that there hasn’t been any building activity in 97 of the 157 Auckland SHAs, the Green Party said today. “This is yet another example of the Government doing something they say will help first home buyers, but actually it mostly just ends up helping land bankers and property speculators,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said. “When less than half of National’s Special Housing Areas have actually seen any building...

The National Government has no more excuses for the Auckland housing crisis now that Auckland Council has passed the Unitary Plan, the Green Party said today. “This is a big step towards building a better, more affordable Auckland, and now the ball is in the Government’s court,” Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter said. “National needs to make the Unitary Plan work properly by building affordable homes, cracking down on property speculators, fixing the Building Code, and investing in public...

The Green Party has today released a consultation paper on how to get the Unitary Plan working for Auckland. “The Green Party is going to introduce great standards for warm, safe, dry homes and for building great neighbourhoods that people love living in, and we are welcoming people’s input,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said today. The Green Party consultation paper brings together two national tools for consideration that will complement the Unitary Plan: ·        Making sure all new homes...

The Government must urgently commit to building more affordable homes in Auckland because the market is failing to do so, the Green Party said today. New QV data out today shows that an increase in new housing supply has kept homes affordable in Christchurch, while the average Auckland house price is now $992,207. “Auckland’s average house price is zeroing in on a million dollars and the crisis is spreading to Tauranga and Hamilton – that won’t change unless the Government...

Land Information Minister Louise Upston can’t name a good reason to allow non-resident overseas investors to buy New Zealand homes because there isn’t one, the Green Party said today. Minister Upston was questioned this morning about new Land Information New Zealand data on the number of overseas buyers in the New Zealand property market. “Every home sold to an overseas investor is a home that a local family can’t buy,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei. “The only thing overseas...