Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
One of the country's biggest land-bankers, who has been involved with some of Auckland's best known new housing areas including Milldale, Silverdale, Flat Bush, Pokeno and Tuakau, says local council compliance hurdles and delays are a huge part of the housing crisis.
Garry Robertson estimates over the past two decades the green fields land he has purchased has been turned into 15,000 sections around the country, which now house tens of thousands of people.
He says he's become increasingly frustrated with the outdated systems and processes used by local authorities, which he claims add as much as 30 per cent to the cost of a section for prospective homeowners.
Mr Robertson, who appeared on the NBR richlist last year, says he's so disillusioned with his experiences, particularly with Auckland Council, that he plans to take a partly developed subdivision he owns in Kaikoura and create sections which run completely off the grid - all services, including water, power and sewage being provided within the development.
Kathryn speaks with him and Kaikoura mayor Craig Mackle.
