The Government’s proposed new Housing & Urban Development Authority is designed to “build our way out of the national housing crisis ... at scale and pace”.

Announced late last month, the Government’s proposed new Housing & Urban Development Authority (HUDA) brings together three existing agencies – Housing New Zealand, its subsidiary HLC and the KiwiBuild Unit.

Says Minister Phil Twyford: “The authority will lead a range of large and small urban development projects throughout the country in partnership with local government, iwi and the private sector.”

For some large-scale complex development projects, says Minister Twyford, it will have access to a range of statutory powers including:

• Shortened planning and consenting processes
• Building and changing infrastructure
• Funding infrastructure and development
• Bringing together parcels of land and reconfiguring reserves

Legislation to establish the Housing & Urban Development Authority will be introduced to Parliament this year, with the first projects expected to be up and running in early 2020.