New Plymouth's mayor is backing Government changes to take away power from local authorities. 

Housing Minister Chris Bishop says new regulation in the Resource Management Act would stop councils stalling housing developments. 

It would let him override councils on the grounds of their decisions negatively impacting economic growth. 

Mayor Neil Holdom says as it is, elected officials have little input in the development of district plans. 

"These things suck in millions of dollars, they're basically written by an elite bureaucracy of planners - and they've tied New Zealand up in knots."

LISTEN ABOVE

New Plymouth's mayor is backing Government changes to take away power from local authorities.&nbsp;
Housing Minister Chris Bishop says new regulation in the Resource Management Act would stop councils stalling housing developments.&nbsp;
It would let him override councils on the grounds of their decisions negatively impacting economic growth.&nbsp;
Mayor Neil Holdom says as it is, elected officials have little input in the development of district plans.&nbsp;
"These things suck in millions of dollars, they're basically written by an elite bureaucracy of planners - and they've tied New Zealand up in knots."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Neil Holdom: New Plymouth mayor on Minister Chris Bishop's plan to take power away from local authorities

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3f76fd46-74f4-46cb-86ae-b3000073ab80/transcript