Housing package: this term’s oil and gas ban?

A phalanx of ministers announced this week's housing package.

Thu, 25 Mar 2021

Stung by critics on the left as leading a do-nothing government and hoist on expectations created before Christmas of meaningful housing affordability reforms, prime minister Jacinda Ardern went into Tuesday morning’s announcements with a lot to prove.At the end of the week, what is the evidence of the housing package’s impact?As public policy, it’s a muddle.The best proof of that is the lack of enthusiasm from officials for any of it and the fact that in stopping house price inflation in its tracks, it may yet raise rents and...

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