Labour + Greens should steal Hooton’s urban renewal idea before National do
Of course National are going to u-turn their urban intensification plans, of course they are!
Hooton makes the devastating case here…
U-turn season starts with housing intensification – Matthew Hooton
…but it’s his inner city urban renewal concept that Labour and the Greens should seize upon…
National strategists say they realise the two million figure has become a lightning rod for criticism. They say a live option is to allow Auckland Council to include new capacity in the CBD, which is excluded for complicated legal reasons, in its growth projections. That, they argue, would have the net effect of lowering the intensification required in the suburbs and requiring it more in the areas that most people agree makes greatest sense. Others suggest that plans to extend the city’s boundaries with more greenfield developments are also likely to be dropped.
National and Wayne Brown would then be able to position intensification as being mainly about the central city’s rejuvenation when the new City Rail Link opens later this year – the construction of which has done so much to trash the central city’s economy and community over the last decade.
Bishop’s programme could then be positioned as being about developing the CBD into a lively, high-population, low-crime inner city, as found in most developed countries, while protecting the Kiwi way of life in the suburbs. That would also support Brown’s vision of progressively redeveloping the waterfront.
…our Central Business Districts are dying because work from Home is a white collar privilege that has permanently shut down foot traffic for many businesses.
That’s not changing.
The Government should be looking to provide incentives to build rent to own apartments for young families and owner occupiers to bring more stability into the inner city populations and allow young families a legitimate step onto the property ladder.
If they are going to let the propertied boomer class get away with keeping their multimillion dollar villas, then open the inner city up to building occupier owner rent to own apartments throughout the inner city and revitalise it that way while providing entry level pricing for home ownership.
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Hooton’s urban renewal idea – of course claim it quickly if it’s there for the taking? Many of our young prefer to live in the city – as in most other countries – with shorter commute times and everything at their doorstep. Important for the Left to get their butts into gear now that ‘holiday’ time is over [except of course for the privileged PM] and get on with finalising sound, fair and finanically funded policies for the future. No pussy-footing around. If the Labour/Green leaders can’t agree to do this, step down and select someone passionate and forward thinking who can. It’s akin to killing two birds with one stone! Just get on with it.
Do not allow property developers or politicians anywhere near urban design.
We have professional, trained urban designers FFS.
We need infrastructure, transport, green spaces, community facilities, common areas, business hubs, as well as comfortable, warm dry home, and we need it all to work together. We don’t just need concrete blocks – we need a good life!
Here is the Greens Rent to own policy in a nutshell.
AI Overview
The Green Party’s rent-to-own policy, often called “Home for Life,” is a progressive home ownership program designed to help renters buy government-built homes by paying below-market rent that builds equity over time, with payments capped at around 30% of income and no large upfront deposit needed, allowing gradual transfer of ownership to the tenant. This policy aims to tackle housing affordability by creating pathways to ownership, reducing reliance on traditional mortgages for low-to-middle income earners, and is part of broader Green Party housing goals including increasing social housing and improving rental standards.
Key Features of the Green Party’s Rent-to-Own Policy
Progressive Ownership: Renters pay a portion of their rent that goes towards buying equity in the home, gradually increasing their ownership stake.
Income-Based Payments: Weekly payments are capped at about 30% of household income, making it more affordable.
No Deposit Needed: The scheme eliminates the need for a large upfront deposit.
Government-Built Homes: Aims to provide 10,000 new homes over ten years, built by the government or in partnership.
Equity Build-Up: A portion of payments builds equity, and if a tenant moves out, their accumulated equity is paid out.
Part of a Larger Plan: Included in broader housing strategies with Labour and aims for a “Renters’ Rights Bill” and mandatory rental standards (Warrant of Fitness).
How it Works (Example)
Move In: Eligible families move into a new government-built home.
Pay Rent & Equity: They pay rent, part of which covers costs, and the rest builds equity in the home.
Own Over Time: Over several years, they build significant equity, eventually allowing them to purchase the home outright or through shared ownership.
Status & Support
This policy has been a long-standing goal of the Green Party, included in confidence and supply agreements with Labour.
It has received backing from organizations like Habitat for Humanity.
https://www.greens.org.nz/progressive_home_ownershipty.
Who funds these ideas?
We have 35 apartment developments going up within a 1km radius of our home (that’s developments not apartments). This doesn’t include those already built. Many of these no longer require off street parking and the streets look like car parks. Public transport planning is at least a decade behind demand. The idea that we can fit 2 million more people on an isthmus like Auckland is deluded. This also ignores the structural and economic issues of having so much of the economy concentrated in one part of the country. Older economic planning spread development out across the regions deliberately. Labour need to pick their policy carefully to avoid diverting some of the lightening from National in election year.