Local Government New Zealand broadly welcomes the Government’s announcement today it will continue to work on policy options to tackle housing affordability.

LGNZ agrees that the issue of affordable housing is a very serious one for all New Zealanders.

"The Government and the local government sector share many concerns. We’re certainly talking the same language in terms of councils being enabled to work with simplified, less onerous, planning and consenting processes that still incorporate economic and environmental concerns, "said LGNZ President, Lawrence Yule.

"Councils have to work within planning and consenting frameworks provided by central government, and then apply the rules to the individual needs of their diverse communities, so we need a system that is more flexible," Mr Yule said.

"LGNZ notes that housing affordability is an issue that impacts significantly differently on different parts of the country. Therefore it is important that the policies that are ultimately chosen are targeted to areas of need."