Labour would also repeal RMA, it says

AUCKLAND: Labour has promised to replace the Resource Management Act — announcing affordable housing policies yesterday at the Auckland construction site for a multimilliondollar home owned by a venture capitalist.

The luxury home is under construction for Matt Ocko, a technology entrepreneur who is on Rocket Lab’s board.

He is a New Zealand resident and at present in his native United States.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern was asked about the venue in Birkenhead, given housing prices are locking many New Zealanders out of home ownership.

‘‘This is their primary home and also their place of work,’’ Ms Ardern said.

She also defended her Government’s record on housing.

‘‘In the wake of inheriting a housing crisis we were willing to try new things, to invest and make sure that our residential housing market was building affordable homes for firsthome buyers.

‘‘And we are continuing that work.

‘‘We won’t turn this problem around in one term, when it took decades to create.’’

Labour’s commitment to repeal and replace the RMA means the legislation will be scrapped and started again next term no matter who wins the election — National has committed to separate legislation that deals with building and planning from that which aims to protect the environment.

Labour environment spokesman David Parker said the RMA’s ‘‘overly restrictive planning rules are one of the causes of high house prices’’.

‘‘We undertook the most comprehensive review of the resource management system in its 30year history, and we will implement its core recommendations in the next . . . term.

‘‘They included repealing the current RMA and replacing it with two new laws, a natural and built environments Act and a strategic planning Act.

‘‘We also agree that climate adaptation legislation is needed.‘‘

He said the number of local government resource management plans should be drastically reduced to a plan per region, and that there should be more national direction to better protect environmental bottom lines.

Labour’s housing policy is a far cry from the KiwiBuild plan it pitched before the 2017 election.

Instead of building 100,000 homes over 10 years, Labour has promised to deliver another 8000 new public and transitional houses by 2024 (homes already announced in this year’s Budget).

Other new policies include introducing a code of conduct for property management services, and ‘‘energy performance certificate’’ ratings for residential buildings, so homebuyers know how much it will cost to heat and cool homes. Those reports would cost about $120.

National leader Judith Collins said Labour’s housing policy ‘‘is an admission of three years of failure’’ and there was a lack of clarity about what changes would be in the new legislation.

Green Party coleader and housing spokeswoman Marama Davidson welcomed the announcement, but said more focus was needed on community housing.

Act New Zealand leader David Seymour said his party had consistently advocated for overhauling the RMA and Labour could not be trusted to take meaningful action.