Housing and RMA Minister Chris Bishop on his plans to shake-up

Government Minister Chris Bishop holds some of the most important portfolios for the new administration - namely housing, resource management and infrastructure. A cabinet paper accompanying a speech Chris Bishop gave on housing reforms states housing affordability is arguably the single most pressing economic, social and cultural problem facing this government. He says getting house prices down to three to five times household incomes would have a "transformative effect" on the New Zealand economy. His plan is to flood cities with infill, fringe, for more greenfields development. Bishop is one of three key ministers who will make the calls on what goes to an expert panel to have their resource consent application fast-tracked. The regime has come under criticism from iwi, environmentalists, scientists and interest groups - saying citizens will miss out on a fair say on major projects that could include mines, fish farms and hydro dams - as well as roads and building developments.