Bill to ‘shortcircuit’ consenting

WELLINGTON: The National Party has released its counter to the Government’s housing steps — a Bill to use emergency powers to ‘‘shortcircuit’’ the consenting process and build houses quickly and to require councils to zone more land for housing.

National leader Judith Collins has put the steps into a member’s Bill, which she will try to get before Parliament.

It would put in place an emergency process, similar to that used after the Christchurch earthquakes, to open up land and build housing quickly.

It would temporarily limit the Resource Management Act (RMA) appeals process so councils could complete plans quickly.

It would require all urban councils to immediately zone more land for housing, enough for at least 30 years of growth.

It also proposes a $50,000 infrastructure grant for all local councils for each new house consented above the council’s fiveyear average, the funds for which would come out of the Government’s new $3.8 billion infrastructure fund.

Ms Collins said National’s solution would be more effective than Labour’s.

‘‘National doesn’t share Labour’s view that you can tax your way out of a housing shortage.

‘‘The time has come for an extraordinary solution to this unfolding emergency.

‘‘We need to shortcircuit the [RMA] to get more houses built.’’

The Government has come under pressure on the issue of housing after property prices soared over the past year.

The Bill is National’s response to the Government’s moves last month to try to slow the housing market by measures such as scrapping the ability to deduct interest from rental income on residential properties and increasing the brightline test from five to 10 years.

It has also moved to try to boost housing supply through a Kainga Ora housebuilding scheme, and a $3.8 billion Housing Acceleration Fund for councils to build infrastructure needed for housing developments.

Further measures are expected in the Budget next month.

National criticised some of the measures, saying they would only push rents higher, and did not do enough to boost supply quickly.

Ms Collins’ Bill will go in the ballot for member’s Bills this week, and she said she would also try to secure the support of enough MPs for it go straight on to the order paper.