Average floor sizes for new dwellings had grown to almost 200 square metres by 2009, among the largest in the world, from an average 110m2 in the 1970s.
By 2031, Auckland is forecast to be home to 2 million people, or 40 per cent of New Zealand's projected 5.15 million population. A 2012 Auckland Council estimate noted that 13,000 new dwellings were needed a year to keep pace with the growing population.
Perversely, the number of people per dwelling is forecast to decline to 2.4 by 2031 from 2.6 in 2011, the paper says, citing Statistics New Zealand data.
Total households across the country would rise to 2.1 million from 1.67 million.
The paper noted that local authorities are somewhat conflicted in tackling housing pressures because existing landowners "have strong incentives to lobby for rules which protect or enhance" the value of their property. Local authorities "are elected by existing residents who have interest in protecting the amenity value of their properties (the not in my back yard, or Nimby factor) and keeping rates low," it said.
The inquiry will not include a review of the Resource Management Act or the Building Act. But it has been asked to make recommendations on: policies, strategies, outcomes and processes for urban land supply, including provision of infrastructure; funding and governance of water and transport infrastructure; governance, transparency and accountability of the planning system; and involvement and engagement with the community, the paper says.
The commission will also consider what lessons can be learned from initiatives such as Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas, and the approach to rebuilding the city of Christchurch.
"The ability to access and use land for housing is affected by local government planning processes, such as district plans, long-term plans, resource consents, and local rules such as height restrictions or minimum lot size rules," Sherwin said. "These processes help protect the environment and ensure communities have the services they need to prosper. But it's equally important that they don't unnecessarily restrict the supply of land for housing for our growing cities."
It noted a review of Christchurch City Council's planning and resource consent processes found they were "large, cumbersome and difficult to navigate" while a self-evaluation of Wellington City Council's district plan found it "complex and exacerbated by" the existing of various incarnations of the plan, which forced developers to hire consultants to help navigate the consent process.
The inquiry will also consider urban development models used overseas, such as Place Victoria, a commercial developer that redevelops surplus government brownfield sites.
