6 Mar 2012

Call for urgent moves on Auckland housing

6:04 am on 6 March 2012

Auckland Council says new figures underline a housing affordability crisis in the city, with up to to 85,000 lower income households paying unaffordable rents

Statistics New Zealand figures prepared for the council show rents for 45% of households consume more than 30% of their incomes.

The figures are included in a rewriting of the city's 30-year development blueprint, which calls for the council to urgently work more closely with the Government and the private sector.

The almost-finalised Auckland Plan proposes an urban development agency to get the council more directly involved in creating good examples of lower-cost, higher density housing.

Discussion over the long term strategy has also highlighted tension between the council and the Government over a state housing redevelopment in Glen Innes.

Several councillors describe as unhelpful a move by Housing New Zealand to reduce social rental housing in the low-income suburb and build more homes for private sale.