National have committed to keeping most of the density rules they agreed to with Labour, with the tweak of giving councils a little more flexibility around where people can build up to three storeys. Overall a great move, and one that will hopefully have a downwards pressure on house prices.
They have also indicated they plan to build more state houses, as well.
A good start and pegging progress to a relative marker like income multiples is the right approach.
I think Chris is making a mistake trusting councils. Keeping the zoning requirements but giving council power to decide where they are implemented will probably lead to more ghettos. In Wellington they are already bending the rules and redefining some train lines as “not mass transit” to prevent density in affluent suburbs.
I do agree that councils will need to be watched closely in regards to how they apply the rules, yes.