Ep 81: How New Zealand Passed Its Ambitious Zoning Reforms with Eleanor West
Nov 13, 2024
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Eleanor West, a research associate at the University of Auckland Economic Policy Centre, shares her expertise on New Zealand's ambitious zoning reforms. She delves into the political, social, and economic factors enabling these changes, particularly in Auckland. The podcast highlights lessons from New Zealand's unique approach to urban planning, contrasting it with U.S. policies. West discusses the balance between livability and density, nonpartisan collaboration for reform, and Auckland's potential as a global model for effective housing solutions.
Eleanor West highlights how New Zealand's zoning reforms emerged from long-standing political and intellectual groundwork influenced by academic research on land use.
The consolidation of Auckland's local governments into a single council facilitated a unified approach to zoning reforms, minimizing local NIMBY pressures.
Nonpartisan advocacy coalitions, such as Generation Zero, were crucial in mobilizing support for zoning changes, emphasizing shared goals like environmental sustainability and increased housing supply.
Deep dives
Political Foundations for Zoning Reforms
The conversation highlights the crucial political conditions that enabled significant zoning reforms in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland. Eleanor West discusses how these reforms were not merely a reaction to housing crises but arose from an intellectual and political groundwork laid over many years. This groundwork was influenced by academic research emphasizing the economic importance of land use regulation and urban planning. By examining examples from New Zealand's history, such as the Christchurch earthquake, it becomes evident that previous experiences shaped the legislative will to pursue bold zoning changes effectively.
Impact of Amalgamation on Local Governance
The amalgamation of Auckland's local governments into a single council structure played a key role in facilitating zoning reforms. This consolidation allowed for a more unified approach to urban planning, reducing the influence of individual, potentially NIMBY-driven local governments. The central government's involvement and progressive enforcement of policies were critical, as were the historical precedents of past interventions in local governance. This dynamic highlights the balance of power necessary for large-scale zoning changes and the influence of centralized governance on local policy outcomes.
Policy Mobilities and Evidence-Based Reforms
The concept of policy mobilities is central to understanding how effective zoning practices from one region can inform adaptations in others. West emphasizes that the evidence generated from Auckland's reforms will serve as a model for similar housing policies globally. As New Zealand experienced the benefits of broader upzoning, the empirical data collected paved the way for its adoption in other locations. This approach not only provides a practical framework for implementing reforms but challenges skepticism about the effects of upzoning on housing affordability.
The Role of Nonpartisan Advocacy
A notable aspect of the discussion is the emphasis on nonpartisan advocacy coalitions that emerged in support of zoning changes. Groups like Generation Zero played an instrumental role in uniting diverse political perspectives to push for substantive policy reforms. This broad coalition was vital in ensuring that zoning reform remained focused on shared goals, such as increased housing supply and environmental sustainability. Maintaining a united front allowed for a more cohesive effort which did not allow partisan divisions to derail the common objectives regarding housing.
Current Political Landscape and Future Directions
The political climate in New Zealand has shifted, raising questions about the future of enacted housing reforms, particularly with newly elected officials advocating for different priorities. The approach to recently passed medium-density residential standards (MDRS) has been modified, shifting to a more optional framework for local authorities. This transition suggests challenges in maintaining the momentum gained from earlier reforms, with the potential for regression into more restrictive policies. Observing how these changes unfold will provide valuable lessons about the durability of zoning reforms in similar political environments worldwide.
In a previous episode we discussed Auckland’s unprecedented upzoning and its effect on housing production and land prices. This time we’re joined by Eleanor West to talk about the political, social, and economic conditions that made the reforms possible — not only in Auckland, but across New Zealand.
Two of the recent articles on how people are more skeptical of supply-and-demand arguments for housing compared to other goods and services, while also being very persuadable:
