Housing a priority for new mayor
Wellington mayor Justin Lester would like to see an additional 200-300 homes built in the city each year.
About 900 houses currently being built are not enough to prevent rapidly rising house prices, he said.
Yesterday the new mayor announced a housing taskforce that will aim to tackle the breadth and depth of housing issues in the city in an attempt to stave off affordability problems.
Deputy mayor Paul Eagle will lead the taskforce that will include developers and community housing representatives and present a detailed housing action plan to council in April next year.
Lester’s election promises such as a $5000 rates rebate for first home builders will be prioritised by the new taskforce and could come into effect as early as July 2017.
The rebate would encourage new migrants and renters in other parts of the country to come and build a home in the capital, Lester said.
Lester said the plan was not a ‘‘silver bullet’’.
‘‘That is a component of the overall solution, the private market is going to have a big role to play as well.’’ Lester said.
‘‘What everyone agrees on is the current model is not working.’’
The scheme would be available to New Zealanders and permanent residents building their first home.
Lester said he expected to see a focus for growth in the CBD and existing special housing areas.
The new task force could ‘‘improve upon’’ the rebate plan when it developed it as part of a wider housing policy, Lester said.
‘‘One of the key issues for the taskforce will be looking at the housing mix,’’ deputy mayor Paul Eagle said.
‘‘Looking at how we are involved now in terms of our regulatory role, and we are a landlord, we want to take the skills we have got already and broaden that scope.’’
John McGrath, the mayor’s chief of staff will give up his role to sit on the taskforce full time and social housing ‘‘guru’’ Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman may also join the group, Eagle said.
About 10 people from a crosssection of housing sector will sit on the ‘working group’ including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor from the council.
The task force will examine everything from homelessness, social housing, the future of Council’s housing stock, housing affordability schemes for first home buyers, the rental market and housing density.
Lester’s election promises to create the city’s first wet house and secure a rental warrant of fitness that requires landlords to meet basic requirements for a home before it can rented it out will also be prioritised by the taskforce. The taskforce will hold its first forum before Christmas. All council portfolios will be released on Friday.