What the new Government means for the South Island

Saturday, 25 November 2023

The South Island is home to almost a quarter of New Zealand’s population, but will have just one minister around the Cabinet table and three more outside of Cabinet.

The National, ACT and New Zealand First coalition claims to offer a stable and effective government that delivers for all Kiwis, but the South Island appears to be under-represented, with few policies dedicated to it.

Te Waiponamu will benefit from just two major roading projects and have no public transport upgrades, while the Lake Onslow hydro project seems destined to be abandoned.

Many residents may have strong feelings about New Zealand First’s promise to cut back spending on cycleways and ACT’s intention to reverse slower speed limits.

However, medium density housing standards becoming optional and changes to the resource management act and fresh water regulations are likely to be welcomed by some residents groups and farmers.

There will be just one South Island representative sitting around the Cabinet table, Waimakariri’s Matt Doocey, compared with Auckland’s nine, and Wellington and Northland’s three MPs each.

Doocey will be the minister for ACC, mental health, tourism and hospitality and youth, as well as the associate minister of health and transport.

National’s coalition agreement with ACT promised to make medium density housing optional for councils.

Additionally, Te Waipounamu will be represented by three more ministers outside Cabinet: Invercargill’s Penny Simmonds, Selwyn’s Nicola Grigg and Taieri’s Mark Patterson.

Making medium density residential standards optional might feel bittersweet for Christchurch City Council.

The council was passionately opposed to the intensification policy, which would allow homes of up to three storeys to be built on most sections across the city without resource consent, and had fought against it.

However, the council was ultimately strong-armed into creating a revised proposal. It went through public consultation earlier this year and is in the middle of a hearings process, which is due to resume early next year.

The independent panel is meant to make a final recommendation for councillors' consideration in April. It's unclear if it's too late to back out now.

The four-lane Woodend Bypass is expected to run from Belfast through to Pegasus in North Canterbury after construction was approved by the new Government.

The council may also be interested to hear about the introduction of financial incentives to enable more housing, including the government considering sharing a portion of GST collected on new residential builds with councils.

Christchurch City Council said on Friday it was too early to comment on what the agreements meant for it.

Nelson residents now have confirmation that the Hope bypass along State Highway 6 will go ahead, while many North Cantabrians may be pleased that the Woodend Bypass will start construction in under three years.

Federated Farmers said the new Government would restore confidence among farmers after what it said had been an incredibly challenging few years.

But the 11 other “roads of national significance”, as National has dubbed them, will be built in the North Island.

Leeann Watson, chief executive of Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, said it was great for business confidence that a government has now been formed.

The chamber had particular interest in the roading projects, and NZ First’s $1.2b regional infrastructure fund, which Waston said she hoped would be funded in line with Canterbury’s contribution to GDP.

The Resource Management Act is in line for major changes, with the coalition partners agreeing that consenting new housing, farming, infrastructure, renewable energy and other primary industry projects needs to be easier.

The Labour government’s solutions to the RMA, the Natural and Built Environment Act 2023 and Spatial Planning Act 2023, are set to be repealed by Christmas.

The National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020, which governed how freshwater should be managed and included iwi in the decision-making process, will be replaced.

Federated Farmers said farmers would be particularly pleased to see a commitment to fix unworkable freshwater rules.

President Wayne Langford was also glad that the ute tax would be repealed, and that RMA red tape would be cut through.

“All of these things will go a long way when it comes to restoring farmer confidence,” he said.

These changes will also have implications for Environment Canterbury, but when approached for comment, a representative said it was too early to respond in detail.

However, in response to the coalition’s intention to repeal legislation which gives two appointed Ngāi Tahu representatives voting rights on the council, chairperson Peter Scott said it may return to having advisers, but is committed to working with mana whenua.

The Government will officially be sworn in on Monday.