Bish delivers for Christchurch

Radio NZ reports:

The government has issued its final decision on Christchurch City Council’s bid to carve its own path out of national housing intensification rules.

Minister Chris Bishop rejected 14 of the council’s 20 recommendations and deferred his decision on three more, after the council refused to accept all of the recommendations of an independent panel.

The minister’s decision will mean some parts of the city will be zoned higher-density housing, and the council won’t be allowed to refuse consents based on sunlight access.

The Council got captured by NIMBYism. When the independent panel and Council disagree, the Minister makes the final call.

In both Wellington and Christchurch, Bish has consistently come down on the side of making it easier for housing to be built, relieving pressure on house prices.