NZ Urban Development news from the media | 4 July 2023 | Consultation open for regulation changes to the Unit Titles Amendment Act

Consultation open for regulation changes to the Unit Titles Amendment Act

e Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released a discussion document for consultation. The discussion document outlines preferred proposals for addressing and implementing the Amendment Act regulations, including alternative options for consideration.

The Amendment Act aims to provide greater protections for people who buy or own unit title properties. It passed into law last year and most of the changes are already in effect. Three sets of regulations are needed to support some of the remaining changes and will take effect on 9 May 2024. These are:

• the information the regulator can request from a body corporate or body corporate manager.
• rules and procedures for electronic voting and remote attendance at meetings.
• setting rules for deciding legal costs for unit title disputes at the Tenancy Tribunal.

https://www.hud.govt.nz/our-work/unit-titles-act-2010/

Plans for huge Havelock North housing development lodged with council

Resource consent applications to convert farmland on the outskirts of Havelock North into a 257-lot residential development have been lodged with Hastings District Council.

CDL Land NZ Ltd, which is 55 per cent Singapore-owned, is planning to develop the subdivision at the confluence of Gilpin, Iona and Middle Road, in four stages.

It lodged a resource consent application for the 127-lot first stage last year, which is yet to be granted.

Work on the first stage is expected to commence in October and be completed in late 2026.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/300915574/plans-for-huge-havelock-north-housing-development-lodged-with-council

Kāinga Ora to assess Auckland Light Rail Urban Development Project

The Minister for Housing and Minister of Finance have jointly directed Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities to assess the potential establishment of the Auckland Light Rail project as a Specified Development Project (SDP) under the Urban Development Act 2020 (UDA).
The proposed Auckland Light Rail Urban Development Project (ALRUDP), is an area comprising the majority of Auckland Light Rail’s proposed 24km City Centre to Airport route and much of Auckland’s CBD, will now be assessed by Kāinga Ora as a potential SDP as outlined under the Urban Development Act 2020 (UDA).

Direction given to Kāinga Ora from the joint Ministers states the proposed ALRUDP is aimed at enabling:

• The development and renewal of the urban environment, with a focus on enabling large-scale urban development and housing development, and
• The development of related commercial, industrial, community or other amenities, infrastructure, facilities, services of works.

The Ministers request Kāinga Ora assess whether establishing ALRUDP as an SDP would contribute to “sustainable, inclusive, and thriving communities in Auckland,” while enabling ALRUDP to achieve its initial business case goals of enabling at least 66,000 additional households and 97,000 additional jobs by 2051.

https://kaingaora.govt.nz/news/kainga-ora-to-assess-auckland-light-rail-urban-development-project/

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