Dr Patricia Austin on the legal frameworks, planning systems, and housing needs assessments that make inclusionary zoning work.

In this episode we speak with Dr Patricia Austin, a leading housing policy expert at the University of Auckland, where her research focuses on affordable housing mechanisms, planning systems, and community development. With extensive international experience studying housing systems across the UK, USA, and New Zealand, she brings a comparative perspective to understanding how different legislative frameworks shape housing outcomes. Dr Austin was instrumental in developing New Zealand's 2007 Affordable Housing Enabling Territorial Authorities Act, and created the housing needs assessment methodology that accompanied it. Her practical expertise bridges academic research with on-the-ground policy implementation, making her a sought-after advisor for local councils navigating complex housing challenges.

In this conversation, we explore inclusionary zoning as a mechanism for delivering affordable housing, with particular focus on Dr Austin's pivotal role in the Queenstown Lakes District inclusionary housing project. She explains the fundamental differences between property rights systems in New Zealand versus the UK and USA, and why these differences matter for implementing inclusionary policies. We discuss the critical importance of housing needs assessments, the various retention mechanisms that prevent affordable housing from flipping back to market rates, and why voluntary inclusionary zoning fails under New Zealand's Resource Management Act. Dr Austin also addresses the displacement caused by recent urban renewal programs, arguing that housing is far more than just physical shelter, it encompasses community connections, schools, churches, and family networks that are essential for vulnerable households to thrive.

We'd like to thank Patricia for talking time for this in-depth conversation.

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The CHA Hub Podcast is sponsored by our Founding Partner, Westpac New Zealand.

Joining us for this episode is Professor Laurence Murphy, a leading voice in human geography at University of Auckland’s School of Environment. With a distinguished academic background that includes a PhD in urban economic geography from Trinity College Dublin and lecturing roles at renowned institutions including the London School of Economics, he brings deep insight to the intersection of finance, property and urban change. His current research explores how global capital flows reshape housing, urban governance and built environments, making him one of New Zealand’s foremost scholars on housing affordability, urban policy and the financialisation of cities.

We sat down with Larry and discussed the role inclusionary housing and zoning could play in addressing New Zealand’s housing affordability crisis. He explained how planning systems overseas capture land value uplift to fund affordable housing, and why similar mechanisms could work here if backed by political commitment and strong planning frameworks.

The conversation explored how market forces have failed to produce affordable housing for the public good, the barriers posed by financialisation and neoliberal economic thinking, and how international models, from the UK’s Section 106 system to U.S. density bonuses, demonstrate practical pathways for reform.

Larry also reflected on the need to re-establish housing as social infrastructure, rethink our collective mindset around property as investment, and rebuild public trust in planning as a tool for equitable outcomes.

We'd like to thank Larry for talking time for this in-depth conversation.

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The CHA Hub Podcast is sponsored by our Founding Partner, Westpac New Zealand.

As sister cities, Aspen and Queenstown share more than scenic beauty; they're both wrestling with what happens when free-market real estate prices workers out of resort towns. Sara Ott, Aspen's city manager at the time of this interview, brings hard-won lessons from a community where the average home costs $13 million, yet mixed-income neighbourhoods thrive.

We spoke with Sara about the housing pressures in Aspen and the parallels with the Queenstown Lakes region. In particular we spoke about Inclusionary Zoning and the partnership with developers required to benefit long-term communities through affordable housing initiatives.

We'd like to thank Sara for taking his time to speak with us for this episode.

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The CHA Hub Podcast is sponsored by our Founding Partner, Westpac New Zealand.

In this CHA Case Study, we explore the Karamū development by Kāinga Maha – a project that showcases how inclusionary zoning and mixed-tenure housing can come together to create more equitable communities.

Karamū is notable as one of the first developments in New Zealand to embed these principles at scale, balancing affordable, public, and market housing within a single neighbourhood to ensure diversity and long-term social cohesion.

We spoke with Annie Wilson from Kāinga Maha about the thinking behind the Karamū development, the role of inclusionary zoning in enabling it, and what lessons can be drawn for other regions in New Zealand. Annie shared insights on how the project was shaped, the challenges faced along the way, and why inclusionary zoning may hold the key to unlocking more sustainable and inclusive housing solutions nationwide.

We'd like to thank Annie and the team at Kāinga Maha for taking his time to speak with us for this episode.

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The CHA Hub Podcast is sponsored by our Founding Partner, Westpac New Zealand.

From teacher retention to student wellbeing, the housing crisis has become an educational issue in Queenstown, forcing schools to think like developers.

Oded Nathan is the principal of Wakatipu High School in Queenstown, New Zealand. Leading a diverse school community of over 1,400 students and 140 staff members, he brings a thoughtful perspective on education, community development, and the challenges facing one of New Zealand's fastest-growing regions. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to student wellbeing and a pragmatic approach to addressing the housing and staffing challenges that impact schools in high-growth tourism centres.

In this short interview, Oded discusses the extraordinary students and diverse community at Wakatipu High School, addressing common misconceptions about young people today. He provides candid insights into how Queenstown's housing crisis affects both students and staff, revealing that the school has already spent more on financial support for families in early 2024 than in all of 2023. Oded explores the practical challenges of staff retention and recruitment, with nearly 10 employees commuting from surrounding towns due to housing unaffordability. He also shares the school's proactive strategies for securing staff accommodation, from partnerships with local organisations to exploring land opportunities with developers, whilst reflecting on the broader question of what kind of community Queenstown wants to become.

We'd like to thank Oded for talking time for this in-depth conversation.

Don't forget to subscribe to the CHA Hub Podcast where ever you get your podcasts from.

The CHA Hub Podcast is sponsored by our Founding Partner, Westpac New Zealand.

The Overton Shift - How public dialogue can unlock bold political action on housing affordability in New Zealand:

In this episode we speak with Emily Irwin, Strategic Housing Planner at the Queenstown Lakes District Council. With a background rooted in community planning and housing policy, Emily brings a strong focus on affordability and inclusion to one of New Zealand’s most dynamic resort regions. Having joined the Council to drive the Joint Housing Action Plan and coordinate across iwi, central government and local partners, she’s shaping how housing density, land-use levers and workforce accommodation strategies are being activated in the district.

In our conversation, Emily explores the tension between housing as shelter and housing as investment in New Zealand, arguing that our cultural fixation on property wealth has come at the cost of community function and economic productivity. She makes the case for inclusionary housing mechanisms as a tool to create perpetually affordable homes distributed across diverse neighbourhoods, avoiding the ghettoisation that can result from purely financial approaches. Emily emphasises that housing challenges ripple far beyond those directly affected: teacher and nurse shortages, business turnover costs, and fractured social connections all stem from unaffordable housing. She calls for broader public conversations to shift the Overton window, enabling politicians to act boldly, and challenges the assumption that market supply alone will solve affordability in high-value resort communities like Queenstown, where free-market dynamics can push average house prices into the millions.

We'd like to thank Anita for talking time for this in-depth conversation.

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The CHA Hub Podcast is sponsored by our Founding Partner, Westpac New Zealand.

How Queenstown is leading New Zealand's inclusionary housing movement and why national legislation matters.

In this episode we speak with Anita Vanstone, the Strategic Growth Manager at Queenstown Lakes District Council, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the region's long-term planning and development strategy. With a background in urban planning, community development, and growth management, Anita works at the intersection of housing, infrastructure, and sustainability to ensure that the Queenstown Lakes area grows in a way that supports both residents and the natural environment. Her work focuses on balancing rapid population growth with the district's vision for liveable, inclusive, and well-connected communities, and she collaborates across council teams, government agencies, and the private sector to deliver integrated, evidence-based solutions for the region's future.

Anita addresses the district's significant housing affordability challenges, where Queenstown Lakes holds the distinction of being New Zealand's most expensive place to both rent and buy. She outlines how the council employs inclusionary housing mechanisms to secure land and financial contributions from development, working in partnership with the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust and central government to deliver perpetually affordable homes. Through practical examples, Anita demonstrates how strategic value capture can create housing opportunities for key workers, families, and elderly residents who might otherwise be priced out of the community. She makes a compelling case for national inclusionary zoning legislation, drawing on international precedents, and reframes housing as essential community infrastructure that requires collective responsibility. Anita emphasises that without proactive intervention, the district risks losing the teachers, healthcare workers, and service industry professionals who sustain the community's social and economic fabric.

We'd like to thank Anita for talking time for this in-depth conversation.

Don't forget to subscribe to the CHA Hub Podcast where ever you get your podcasts from.

The CHA Hub Podcast is sponsored by our Founding Partner, Westpac New Zealand.

Dr Michael Rehm on Auckland's failed experiment and the path forward

Dr Michael Rehm is a property academic at the University of Auckland Business School with over 20 years of experience researching New Zealand's housing market. During the formation of Auckland's unitary plan, Michael was engaged by Auckland Council to conduct feasibility studies and Section 32 analysis for proposed inclusionary zoning provisions. His work involved extensive consultation with developers, planners, and market stakeholders to understand the practical implications of requiring affordable housing in new developments. Through this research, Michael developed deep insights into both the technical mechanics of inclusionary housing and the political challenges of implementing market interventions in New Zealand's predominantly market-driven housing system.

This conversation examines inclusionary housing as a planning tool to address housing affordability for people who can no longer access affordable housing and homes. Michael explains what went wrong with Auckland's earlier attempt at inclusionary zoning, including how developers exploited loopholes and why the absence of long-term stewards like community housing providers caused the initiative to collapse. The discussion explores critical design elements for successful implementation, including transparency requirements, the role of development contributions as incentives, and the need for regulations that ensure affordable units remain accessible across generations rather than becoming windfall gains for lucky individuals. Michael's analysis reveals that if New Zealand had adopted inclusionary zoning nationally in 2016, the country would now have approximately 20,000 perpetually affordable homes, a portfolio equivalent to the current social housing waitlist, that would continue growing year after year.

We'd like to thank Michael for talking time for this in-depth conversation.

Don't forget to subscribe to the CHA Hub Podcast where ever you get your podcasts from.

The CHA Hub Podcast is sponsored by our Founding Partner, Westpac New Zealand.