Council requests a pause to controversial housing density plans
The future of Christchurch’s housing intensification plan now sits with the new environment minister.
The Christchurch City Council decided on Wednesday to ask Environment Minister Penny Simmonds to pause the $4.2 million independent hearings process, which is considering housing density rules imposed by the former Government.
Due to existing laws the council can not make the decision itself.
The intensification plan being considered allows three residential buildings of three storeys each to be built, without a resource consent, across vast parts of the city. It also allows for higher limits in main suburban centres.
The plan, which has garnered strong opposition from residents’ groups, provides enough space for housing for the next 150 years.
But the new Government has said it would make the density standards optional for councils.
Read the full story from reporter Tina Law here (subscription required).
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Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”
We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?
Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.
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41.3% Yes
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32.8% Maybe?
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25.9% No
2025 has been massive. The Luxon-led Government's attacks on workers, on Te Tiriti, on pay equity, on educators, on health workers, and on the public service, have been relentless.
But despite everything thrown at working people, we've also seen some massive wins. We've fought back together with strike action. We've unified with days of action. We have focused on what matters. Make no mistake, 2026 will be wild, and we are ready for it! Source - New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
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