War is for Winning

Auckland and the Government - a pessimistic prediction.

Nick Smith, Minister for Housing has just signaled that he is going to force council to open up more long-term land for housing supply.  On the face of it this should be great news for Auckland.

However I am a pessimist and a cynic.   Cynical zero sum politics say the Nats and the Council politics align around keeping land costs high. 

I believe Nick Smith is going to "force" our Lenny Penny council to open up even more exurbia.  

More exurban land is more sprawl and more cost.  It will suit both their cynical politics and screw over Auckland.  More exurban sprawl will not help Auckland. 

What is required is more land added to Auckland City.  Auckland City is the biggest city in NZ, it should be possible for our politicians to work out where it is and where it isn't.

Update - Called it. Nick Smith will make the restrictions on Auckland permanent and make the sprawl happen.  Only he wants this screwed up plan to occur even faster.

National Party - Cynical Party.

posted by unaha-closp @ 12:04 AM