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"Targets don't build houses": Why the Govt was forced to water down Auckland housing plan

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Fri, 20 Feb 2026, 8:15am
Photo / Jason Oxenham
Photo / Jason Oxenham

"Targets don't build houses": Why the Govt was forced to water down Auckland housing plan

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Fri, 20 Feb 2026, 8:15am

An urban planning specialist is advising the Government to be careful changing a development plan he believes was already working.

The Government's revising the city's housing capacity number in its new plan from just over two million to 1.6 million.

It is focusing more on building in the city and by transport hubs, rather than suburbs.

Mt Hobson Group Director Hamish Firth told Mike Hosking you're creating fear from something that people don't get.

He says you create paper capacity, but also community backlash, land value distortion and probably not any extra homes.

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