The Government's promising to tackle construction costs with proposed building consent reforms. 

The cost of building a house has increased significantly in recent years, which the Government says makes it harder for people to buy their first home. 

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk wants costs to go down but doesn't have a prediction for where it'll go. 

He's vowing to streamline the consenting process, saying the little guys have been shut out because of red tape. 

LISTEN ABOVE