Auckland and Christchurch Gain Exemption from Key Intensification Rules
By Lions Roar News Housing & Planning Analyst
The push for local control over urban development has scored a significant victory, with the Government officially granting Auckland and Christchurch councils the authority to withdraw parts of the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) from their city plans. This legislative move, which required a change in national law, is a direct response to arguments that the blanket, one-size-fits-all intensification rules were inappropriate for certain areas within the cities.
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop confirmed the decision, stating the move returns “decision-making to locals” in how and where housing growth should occur. For Auckland Council, the move confirms the withdrawal of the controversial Plan Change 78 (PC78) and paves the way for a new plan, PC120. This new plan allows the council to downzone areas particularly vulnerable to natural hazards like floods, while still being legally required to deliver the same overall housing capacity as the original plan.
Christchurch City Council was also confirmed to have met its required housing growth target through its own Plan Change 14, thereby allowing it to withdraw from the mandatory application of the MDRS. This ensures the city can focus intensification in areas best suited for growth—such as the city centre and major commercial hubs—rather than enforcing three-storey developments in heritage or low-lying areas.
The Minister emphasised that while the MDRS rules had been successful in driving density in many areas, the bespoke approach for the country’s two largest cities was necessary due to their unique geographical and hazard profiles. The decision marks a significant philosophical shift from centralised planning back towards localized governance, enabling councils to craft zoning rules that balance the urgent need for housing supply with community character and climate resilience. The new planning processes for both cities will now proceed through extended periods of public consultation.
