Housing

 

We believe that many of the problems in the housing market have been created or exacerbated by government action, so we would be careful to ensure any future government intervention is limited and appropriate.

The biggest problem is that housing supply has not been able to keep up with the high demand driven by high levels of immigration and family breakdown. This is due primarily to overly restrictive planning laws, which also impose a significant cost burden. We would therefore seek dramatic simplification and reduction in land use restrictions.

We would also seek to reduce compliance costs and free up building regulations, for example streamlining the CodeMark process to allow greater competition, and allowing materials certified in other developed nations to be used without additional certification for New Zealand.

​We would seek to address skills shortfalls by introducing trades training from Year 9 to give young people the opportunity to choose a trade as a career path during their education. They will be qualified sooner, and it will help keep them in the education system. There needs to be a definite focus on encouraging the trades as a positive career choice with good financial outcomes.
 
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