Nick Smith
Building Minister says Cabinet considering granting compulsory acquisition powers for Urban Development Authorities; initially says could be used to combat land-bankers, but then back-tracks; Reaction mixed
4th Jul 16, 10:57am
28
Building Minister says Cabinet considering granting compulsory acquisition powers for Urban Development Authorities; initially says could be used to combat land-bankers, but then back-tracks; Reaction mixed
Central Government to create temporary fund to pay for roads and pipes in high growth cities such as Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga, Hamilton and Queenstown; Councils will have to repay funds or buy back infrastructure after houses built
3rd Jul 16, 12:33pm
75
Central Government to create temporary fund to pay for roads and pipes in high growth cities such as Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga, Hamilton and Queenstown; Councils will have to repay funds or buy back infrastructure after houses built
Smith puts out National Policy Statement that requires high growth Councils to open up 15% more land than is forecast to be required; NPS to be in place by Oct and back up Unitary Plan; Smith sees Commissioner for Auckland not needed
2nd Jun 16, 12:31pm
88
Smith puts out National Policy Statement that requires high growth Councils to open up 15% more land than is forecast to be required; NPS to be in place by Oct and back up Unitary Plan; Smith sees Commissioner for Auckland not needed
Smith says National Policy Statement on urban land development set for release on Thursday; Could be operative by October; Smith defends developer contributions and dismisses proposal for targeted rates to service infrastructure bonds
31st May 16, 11:49am
11
Smith says National Policy Statement on urban land development set for release on Thursday; Could be operative by October; Smith defends developer contributions and dismisses proposal for targeted rates to service infrastructure bonds
Twyford points to collapse in home ownership rates in South and West Auckland since 2006 and investors hoover up properties; PM says home ownership rates falling all over the world, points to KiwiSaver HomeStart; Debate rages on 'crisis' and motel debts
25th May 16, 10:49am
130
Twyford points to collapse in home ownership rates in South and West Auckland since 2006 and investors hoover up properties; PM says home ownership rates falling all over the world, points to KiwiSaver HomeStart; Debate rages on 'crisis' and motel debts
English, Bennett signal 'significant' social housing announcement in Budget 2016; Bennett acknowledges housing crisis for homeless; English slams Auckland Council again; Smith denies housing crisis
24th May 16, 1:48pm
38
English, Bennett signal 'significant' social housing announcement in Budget 2016; Bennett acknowledges housing crisis for homeless; English slams Auckland Council again; Smith denies housing crisis
Housing Minister's claim homes are more affordable now than when Labour was in government only tells part of the story
24th May 16, 9:40am
59
Housing Minister's claim homes are more affordable now than when Labour was in government only tells part of the story
Nick Smith announces deals done for developments on three Government-owned land sites in Auckland to build 740 homes; sites in Manukau, Mt Albert and Waterview; homes to be built within 18 mths
23rd May 16, 4:03pm
44
Nick Smith announces deals done for developments on three Government-owned land sites in Auckland to build 740 homes; sites in Manukau, Mt Albert and Waterview; homes to be built within 18 mths
Auckland Council says it has already approved plans for up to 23,000 new homes outside of the current urban limit
20th May 16, 10:32am
89
Auckland Council says it has already approved plans for up to 23,000 new homes outside of the current urban limit
Labour calls on Govt to abolish Auckland's Rural Urban growth Boundary and relax density controls in upcoming National Policy Statement; also calls for new way to fund infrastructure for developments
18th May 16, 1:00pm
106
Labour calls on Govt to abolish Auckland's Rural Urban growth Boundary and relax density controls in upcoming National Policy Statement; also calls for new way to fund infrastructure for developments
Key defends Govt's actions on affordable and social housing as reports emerge of Auckland families living in garages, cars and containers; suggests families talk to Work and Income; Smith flags land release directive; sees ChCh as model
16th May 16, 10:05am
140
Key defends Govt's actions on affordable and social housing as reports emerge of Auckland families living in garages, cars and containers; suggests families talk to Work and Income; Smith flags land release directive; sees ChCh as model
Finance Minister says Govt expects Auckland Council to approve Unitary Plan that caters for housing supply growth needs; says August vote on Plan 'probably the single biggest issue for house prices across the country'
12th May 16, 7:16pm
22
Finance Minister says Govt expects Auckland Council to approve Unitary Plan that caters for housing supply growth needs; says August vote on Plan 'probably the single biggest issue for house prices across the country'
Housing Minister says LINZ data showing 3% of home buyers were overseas tax payers settles debate over foreign buyers; says no need for land tax on foreigners on this data
11th May 16, 8:59am
100
Housing Minister says LINZ data showing 3% of home buyers were overseas tax payers settles debate over foreign buyers; says no need for land tax on foreigners on this data
Labour's Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill passes first reading with Dunne's support; would force landlords to improve insulation and pay for heat pumps; Landlords and Govt opposed, saying it would increase rents
5th May 16, 2:47pm
19
Labour's Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill passes first reading with Dunne's support; would force landlords to improve insulation and pay for heat pumps; Landlords and Govt opposed, saying it would increase rents
Housing Minister says Government does not believe there is a housing crisis; sees a "challenge"; says rising house demand a 'good news story' that requires supply response; Seymour asks how affordable housing would be with 9% mortgage rate
5th May 16, 12:50pm
135
Housing Minister says Government does not believe there is a housing crisis; sees a "challenge"; says rising house demand a 'good news story' that requires supply response; Seymour asks how affordable housing would be with 9% mortgage rate
Government rejects & opposition embraces campaigners' calls for fresh waterways to be made 'swimmable' at the very least
30th Mar 16, 5:02am
10
Government rejects & opposition embraces campaigners' calls for fresh waterways to be made 'swimmable' at the very least
Bernard Hickey describes how a few hundred Auckland home-owners were able to knee-cap the aspirations of generations of renters and strangle New Zealand's economic growth potential in a couple of meetings
28th Feb 16, 5:02am
106
Bernard Hickey describes how a few hundred Auckland home-owners were able to knee-cap the aspirations of generations of renters and strangle New Zealand's economic growth potential in a couple of meetings
Housing and Building Minister quizzed in Parliament over revolt within Auckland Council against housing intensification; says supports intensification in leafy Eastern and Northern Suburbs; Key keener on intensification in CBD, West Auckland
18th Feb 16, 7:40pm
67
Housing and Building Minister quizzed in Parliament over revolt within Auckland Council against housing intensification; says supports intensification in leafy Eastern and Northern Suburbs; Key keener on intensification in CBD, West Auckland
Minister calls on Auckland Council to 'stay the course' on building 'up and out'; says Council needs to deliver Unitary Plan before expiry of Special Housing Areas in Sept 2016; Key more equivocal; sees intensification in CBD, West Auckland
16th Feb 16, 1:44pm
8
Minister calls on Auckland Council to 'stay the course' on building 'up and out'; says Council needs to deliver Unitary Plan before expiry of Special Housing Areas in Sept 2016; Key more equivocal; sees intensification in CBD, West Auckland
Smith defends Government spending NZ$29 million on subsidies for Weymouth housing project when speculators pocketed big gains by selling houses within five weeks; New buyers have to hold for 3 years
3rd Dec 15, 5:21pm
20
Smith defends Government spending NZ$29 million on subsidies for Weymouth housing project when speculators pocketed big gains by selling houses within five weeks; New buyers have to hold for 3 years
Smith finally tables RMA reform after doing deal with Maori Party; National fails to get section 6 & 7 reform to focus on economic development
26th Nov 15, 12:54pm
30
Smith finally tables RMA reform after doing deal with Maori Party; National fails to get section 6 & 7 reform to focus on economic development
The New Zealand Initiative’s Jason Krupp argues that Nick Smith should visit Montreal to see how shifting infrastructure costs can improve housing affordability
23rd Nov 15, 10:24am
4
The New Zealand Initiative’s Jason Krupp argues that Nick Smith should visit Montreal to see how shifting infrastructure costs can improve housing affordability
Govt taskforce calls for 'loopy rules' to be reined in, cleaning up property regulation & streamlining the consenting process
22nd Sep 15, 2:54pm
Govt taskforce calls for 'loopy rules' to be reined in, cleaning up property regulation & streamlining the consenting process
Smith looking at extending exemptions for registered builders to self-certify some types of building work; also looking at new building guarantee scheme to deal with liability on self-certified work
22nd Sep 15, 1:48pm
6
Smith looking at extending exemptions for registered builders to self-certify some types of building work; also looking at new building guarantee scheme to deal with liability on self-certified work
As the arguments continue over 'how much is enough?' Auckland's residential construction market IS now seriously ramping up
9th Sep 15, 12:04pm
43
As the arguments continue over 'how much is enough?' Auckland's residential construction market IS now seriously ramping up