Stephen Jennings: belief

Transcript context

…How important is it that it’s relatively hard to build new housing near Auckland? I know that’s eased somewhat due to legal changes, but still, there’s a movement. YIMBY for Auckland and New Zealand. Is that a major issue or a minor issue? It’s a horrific issue. Auckland has some of the least affordable housing in the world, I think number five, last time I looked. Yet only 2 percent of New Zealand is built upon. It’s just a massive paradox. We’re meant to be the country that believes in a fair go, but it’s hugely hypocritical. If you’re a bus driver, you’re never going to buy a house, and a huge proportion of your income is going to go to rent. The biggest source of inequality in New Zealand is housing costs, which through regulatory change could be fixed. Just look at Tatu City: We can build a good apartment that anyone would be happy to live in for $35,000. In Auckland, that’s going to cost you $400,000. And that could be changed in months. Everyone knows Queenstown, Milford Sound, but what’s the most underrated part of New Zealand?…

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