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Urban planning: it’s a cultural problem

By Hugh Pavletich - posted Tuesday, 30 March 2010


As a commercial property developer, I found that near 80 per cent of my time was spent on political and regulatory matters. Of the 30 years I have been in the development business, I would estimate only some five to six years has been engaged on actual development work. The rest of the time has been spent “playing politics” and navigating one’s way through the haze of unpredictable, unnecessarily time wasting and confused bureaucratic fog.

The first Demographia Housing Survey released in early 2005 illustrated these problems (with constant annual repetition), but Labour Governments in Australia and New Zealand for near four years through to late 2008 chose to ignore these important survey’s. After all, the bubble property markets were generating excess bubble revenues for the government. To add insult to injury, the then Finance Minister Michael Cullen delighted in telling New Zealanders of his illusory financial management skills.

California was really the “Cullen model”.

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It was in large measure thanks to the socially responsible New Zealand Planning Institute supporting the Demographia Survey (please note - not the New Zealand Bankers Association) back in early 2007, that stimulated the then National Party Opposition to take up these issues. The National Party’s Housing Spokesman Phil Heatley at the time completed an overseas Study Tour and initiated the Commerce Committee Housing Affordability Inquiry.

Soon after the new National led Coalition Government was formed November 2008 and the 5th Annual Demographia Housing Survey released late January 2009, the then Housing Minister Phil Heatley made it clear the new government intended to deal with these issues.

Now - within a few weeks, the Environment Minister Nick Smith's Urban Technical Advisory Groups (writer’s comments) report is to be released. Hopefully, this report will provide the foundation for real progress to start on getting sound governance and responsible regulatory administration in place.

It is important to recognise, however, that our government and public bureaucracies at all levels are a reflection of us. If these serious problems are to be solved, it will require the active, informed and responsible participation of industry and professional groups in particular and each and every one of us as citizens.

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About the Author

Hugh Pavletich is Managing Director of Pavletich Properties Ltd, a commercial property development and investment company, based in Christchurch, New Zealand. He initiated and co authors the Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey and in 2004 was elected a fellow with the Urban Development Institute of Australia, for services to the property industry. He operates the website Performance Urban Planning.

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