Christopher Luxon can dismiss councils, but he can’t dismiss the bill that will land with ratepayers.
“Councils are telling the Government there isn’t enough water, sewerage, roads or other infrastructure to support these developments. Christopher Luxon should listen to them,” Labour housing and infrastructure spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said.
“Instead, he’s doubling down on rushed decisions that could leave councils, and ultimately ratepayers, picking up a multibillion-dollar infrastructure bill.
“You can’t build thousands of houses where the sewage has to be trucked away because there aren’t pipes to take it. That’s not a housing plan - it’s a recipe for higher rates and angry communities.
“You can’t draw thousands of houses on a map and pretend the infrastructure will magically appear.
“At a time when households are already struggling with the cost of living, the last thing they need is National making decisions that push up their rates.
“Labour will build more homes, but we’ll make sure the infrastructure is there to support them. We won’t dump the cost of National’s rushed decisions onto household bills.
“Christopher Luxon needs to stop arguing with councils and start listening to the people who actually have to make these developments work,” Kieran McAnulty said.
