Urban Development Authorities

To deliver more dynamic and successful cities that better meet the needs for housing, employment and amenity, the Government is proposing that major urban development projects are able to be built more quickly. New legislation is being considered that will enable local and central government to:

• empower nationally or locally significant urban development projects to access more enabling development powers and land use rules; and
• establish new urban development authorities to support these projects where required.

MBIE is currently undertaking public consultation on the content and extent of this proposed legislation.

This proposal is likely to be of interest to a range of audiences, technically minded and general public alike. Therefore, we’ve provided both an easy-to-understand introduction for the general reader (section 1) and more in-depth information for those who want a more detailed discussion (sections 3-8).

• Section 1 of the discussion document provides a short summary of the proposal
• Section 2 outlines why we need new legislation to support urban development projects
• Sections 3 and 4 set out the proposals for the framework and processes of the new legislation, and for urban development authorities
• Sections 5 – 8 detail the proposed powers relating to land assembly and reserves; planning, land use and consenting; infrastructure; and funding and financing. A summary of the proposed changes can be found at the end of each of these sections.
• Section 9 recognises and discusses Māori interests in the proposals
• Section 10 describes other matters that do not currently form part of the proposal, but that the Government would like to seek your views on.

Stakeholder Guides

MBIE has prepared the following guides for key stakeholder groups to provide tailored information on the urban development authority proposals. The guides are not intended to replace the discussion document, but provide an extended summary highlighting specific points that may be relevant to the selected stakeholders.

Residents, business owners and tenants [PDF, 280 KB]
Infrastructure and utility providers [PDF, 237 KB]
Regional councils [PDF, 414 KB]
Territorial authorities [PDF, 317 KB]
Developers [PDF, 240 KB]

Out of scope

The following topics will not be considered in this Discussion Document or during the further development of this proposal:

• the planning and consenting system as a whole
• any ability for urban development authorities to access powers under the Building Act 2004 and the Building Code.

Analysis of options

A consultation Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to explain the analysis supporting the proposals in the discussion document.

The RIS provides an analysis of options to improve urban development outcomes in New Zealand and assesses the case for enacting legislation that provides a wide range of powers to support nationally or locally significant urban development projects.

Your feedback on the proposals in this discussion document will inform the finalisation of the RIS.

The draft consultation RIS is available above.