Plan Change 120 – Political Update

Here is an update on Plan Change 120.

You may have seen media reporting on Friday, and today, regarding political changes to the Government’s policy.

The Prime Minister was reported in The Post saying:

“It's clear to us that change is needed and we're prepared to make that change. I don't think there's a problem when you actually say, ‘I’ve listened to feedback and I'm going to do something different about it’.”
...
Luxon said he wanted the council to continue running its consultation process.

“Clearly, there's been a huge amount of feedback. Clearly, things are going to need to change in our response as well. And so we’ve been very upfront about that.”

The shape of the change to come is still being determined. Any change to Government Policy requires a meeting of Cabinet, which is scheduled to resume later this month. Suffice to say, I will continue participating in this policy process.

A change to Government Policy could relax the requirements placed on Auckland Council to zone more land or require them to zone increased capacity elsewhere from where they have done so. The changes at Government level will need to be confirmed by Cabinet.

When that happens I will have more to say, but I thought you would like to know that movement is occurring, and it will bring relief from the plan the Council had sought to impose.

Aucklanders' voices have got us this far, and regardless of changes at the Government level, we will need to keep engaged with Auckland Council. The first round of consultation on Plan Change 120 has now closed, but a second round of public submissions opens on 26 February.

Regards,

David Seymour
ACT Leader
MP for Epsom