Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Premium
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Jo Raphael: Plan changes will be good for our cities - let’s grow up

Jo Raphael
By Jo Raphael
nzme·
12 Dec, 2022 04:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

The landscape of our cities will change, writes Jo Raphael. Photo / Andrew Warner

The landscape of our cities will change, writes Jo Raphael. Photo / Andrew Warner

OPINION

“Build more houses!”

“Give us back our motels!”

“There’s so much crime!”

“Housing affordability is out of reach!”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“Get us out of this mess!” the people cry.

“Sure,” the Government says. “We have a plan. We’re going to change the rules to allow more housing to be built in your city - okay?”

“No, I don’t want developments in my neighbourhood - it will affect my property value. It will change the aesthetic and I don’t want THOSE types of people living here. I hate the idea. Not In My Back Yard.”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

That’s roughly how it goes, right?

Everyone knows that we’re suffering from a deplorable housing shortage.

We are at risk of raising a generation of motel kids.

In my view, the Government has come up with a decent answer in the form of local authorities changing their rules to allow for higher-density development.

In Rotorua, it’s called Plan Change 9, in Tauranga, Plan Change 33.

Homeowners and ratepayers will have had letters sent to them about these proposed plan changes, along with the opportunity to make submissions to an independent hearings panel which will make the decision.

Submissions for both plans closed on Friday.

A quick perusal of summaries of submissions to both councils shows a mixed bag.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Some of those opposing the move expressed concerns over needing more investigation, having no rights to object, concerns about height, closeness, privacy, loss of sunlight, and lack of parking requirements.

Some saw the potential for overcrowding and worried about the management of rainwater and floodwater and loss of views.

While these concerns are valid, I can’t see why - with mitigation - these plans can’t go ahead.

More development will attract jobs, the local economy will improve, and quality building standards will mean families will be living in healthier homes.

Changing neighbourhoods will attract retail, more amenities and more permanent jobs, and there will be fewer evictions as more people can afford the rent.

With amenities close by, car reliance will be reduced, therefore reducing the need for parking.

Nimbyism has its place but its misuse is stifling development.

The landscapes of our cities will need to change in order for us to keep up with demand - that is a given and it’s time to accept it.

People cannot expect to live in a bubble. Change is guaranteed and the need is acute.

I’m optimistic that we can make this work if it’s done properly.

It’s time for our cities to grow up - not out.










Save
    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

'Unsustainable caseloads': Chief Justice laments too few judges, not enough courts

Rotorua Daily Post
|Updated

Violence charges dropped for well-known man after restorative hui

Rotorua Daily Post

'Positive news': Maternity services to be fully restored at Whakatāne Hospital in 2026


Sponsored

NZ’s convenience icon turns 35

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

'Unsustainable caseloads': Chief Justice laments too few judges, not enough courts
Rotorua Daily Post

'Unsustainable caseloads': Chief Justice laments too few judges, not enough courts

Criminal trials are becoming longer and more complex, now lasting more than three weeks.

03 Sep 06:34 AM
Violence charges dropped for well-known man after restorative hui
Rotorua Daily Post
|Updated

Violence charges dropped for well-known man after restorative hui

03 Sep 06:00 AM
'Positive news': Maternity services to be fully restored at Whakatāne Hospital in 2026
Rotorua Daily Post

'Positive news': Maternity services to be fully restored at Whakatāne Hospital in 2026

03 Sep 01:58 AM


NZ’s convenience icon turns 35
Sponsored

NZ’s convenience icon turns 35

02 Sep 09:23 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP