Homeowner Relief: Chris Bishop Intervenes to Save 400+ Auckland Housing Projects

By Lions Roar News National Desk

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND — Saturday, February 7, 2026 — More than 400 Auckland homeowners and developers who were trapped in a “planning limbo” for the past four months can finally move forward. Housing Minister Chris Bishop has stepped in, using an obscure section of the Resource Management Act (RMA) to resolve a crisis triggered by the withdrawal of Plan Change 78 (PC78).

The intervention effectively rescues millions of dollars in residential developments that were stalled after a sudden change in council policy last September.

1. The Planning “Black Hole”

The issue began in September 2025 when Auckland Council voted to withdraw its controversial Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) and the associated Plan Change 78.

• The Policy Shift: The withdrawal was made possible by government amendments allowing councils more flexibility in where and how density occurs.
• The Oversight: When the council pulled the plug on PC78, they neglected to provide a “safety net” for those who had already obtained resource consents or lodged applications under the old rules.
• The Result: Hundreds of homeowners found themselves unable to complete their developments, as the legal framework they had started under simply vanished overnight.

2. The Minister’s “Obscure” Intervention

After four months of silence and mounting frustration from property owners, Minister Chris Bishop utilized a rarely-used provision of the RMA to provide legal certainty.

• The Fix: By invoking this section, the Minister has validated the existing consents and pending applications, allowing them to be processed as if the policy withdrawal had not created a gap.
• Minister’s Stance: Bishop emphasized that it was unfair for citizens to be “collateral damage” in a shifting policy landscape. “People who did the right thing and followed the rules shouldn’t be punished because the rules changed mid-stream,” his office indicated.

3. Impact on Auckland’s Housing Supply

The 400 affected projects represent a significant portion of Auckland’s mid-tier housing growth.

• Economic Relief: For many homeowners, the delay meant mounting interest costs and expiring builder contracts. This move provides immediate financial relief.
• Developer Confidence: Industry experts say the intervention was necessary to maintain confidence in the planning system, which has been criticized for being overly complex and unpredictable.