Affordable Housing Essential for Auckland City

City Vision-Labour Councillors are urging Mayor Banks, Deputy Mayor Hay and their Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) council colleagues to do the right thing about acting on Auckland City's affordable housing crisis. 

"Today's NZ Herald story about the Demographia survey revealing housing in New Zealand cities being among the world's least affordable makes it even more vital that Auckland City reverses its decision not to be involved with future partnerships to provide affordable housing," says Cr Richard Northey, Auckland City Council's City Vision-Labour team leader.

"Auckland City Council is losing key working families and economic growth because it is simply wringing its hands about affordable housing. The Auckland City Council should be following the lead of the last Council in actively working with government, developers, and the voluntary sector to help ensure affordable housing is provided.

"Auckland City Council needs to support and advocate strengthening of the Government's Affordable Housing Bill which should ensure an adequate proportion of affordable housing is provided in all significant housing developments within Auckland City's boundaries.

"All Auckland local authorities must retain control over the region's metropolitan urban limits to ensure a compact city with viable transport networks and affordable infrastructure development so current and future generations can afford to live here.

"Auckland's councils must retain careful and cost effective control over building consents to ensure there is no repeat of the leaky buildings disaster," Richard Northey concluded.

ENDS

Posted Mon 21 Jan 2008