Well done Christchurch City Council

Nicola Willis announced:

The Christchurch City Council has been selected to serve as a one-stop consenting authority for large-scale supermarket developments.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the new service is the latest step in the Government’s plans to make New Zealand a more attractive destination for new supermarkets.

“More supermarkets equals more competition equals lower prices. 

“Until now, new supermarket developers have faced having to deal with up to 66 different councils, 66 different processes and 66 different responses. That’s a disincentive to setting up shop here. 

“The establishment of a one-stop shop means a developer looking to build in multiple locations now only has to deal with one authority.

What I find interesting is that the Council chosen is Christchurch.

Just 11 years ago the Council was so incompetent, it actually got stripped of its consenting power. And today it is so good at consenting, it got the job to deal with nationwide consenting for supermarkets.

I’m not sure who is responsible for this change – former Crown Manager Doug Martin, or Council CEOs since then. But it impressive to go from unable to be trusted to even issue its own consents, to doing them for all of New Zealand for one sector.