A bid to change a political football as research finds housing targets aren't working.  

The New Zealand Initiative suggests councils should be judged on whether there's real and affordable choices – replacing traditional targets with price indicators. 

It also recommends an expert panel to make decisions rather than central Government. 

Research Fellow Benno Blaschke told Mike Hosking we need to get the politics out of it, like we do in other areas. 

He says the Finance Minister doesn't set interest rates, the Reserve Bank does, as it's independent and has the technical skill required.  

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