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Priced Out – How New Zealand Lost its Housing Affordability looks at long-term trends in housing regulation and social circumstances as well as the changing roles of local and central governments. The report reveals how and why New Zealand is suffering a shortfall of houses. Read more

A submission by the New Zealand Business Roundtable on the Auckland Council's Draft Plan. Read more

The affordability of housing is an important issue. The quantity, quality and price of housing services obtained through owner-occupation, renting and other arrangements are vital for the overall welfare of all New Zealanders. Read more

While improved governance arrangements for Auckland are a commendable first step, the Forum believes that much work remains if local government is to contribute fully to lifting overall economic performance. Broader reform of local government, which the government is progressing separately, can assist. Read more

Landowners have traditionally been required to bear the capital cost of works that are undertaken within subdivisions and developments and are necessary to enable council provided services to be used. Landowners have also been required to compensate local authorities for certain costs that councils incur in connecting council provided services for land that is subdivided or developed. Read more

The Local Government Forum welcomes the opportunity to make a submission on the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill. Overall, the Forum supports the Bill's intent and recommends that it should proceed - subject to specific comments in this submission. Read more

The purpose of this report is to provide a primer on the core role of local government: the provision of public goods. Governments have to distinguish their roles from those of the private sector and prioritise their plans because the demands on them are unlimited, but resources are scarce. Read more

The Business Roundtable supports the Regulatory Responsibility Bill (Bill), with the exception of clause 11 that attempts to exclude the courts. We also make a number of suggestions for minor improvements. Read more

In terms of revenue, spending and assets, many councils rank with New Zealand’s largest enterprises: ratepayers’ equity is a massive $67 billion, or $16,300.00 per capita. This report points to the very large increases in rates payable by households and businesses over recent years. Read more

We share the WRS team’s concern about the lagging performance of the regional economy. Both directly and through the Local Government Forum we have drawn attention to this problem in submissions to the Wellington City Council and the Wellington Regional Council over many years. Read more