New Zealand Legislation: Bills

15A Making, reviewing, and amending policy

• (1) A territorial authority may start on the process of adopting an affordable housing policy if—

  • (a) it has assessed the need for affordable housing in its district under sections 7 and 8; and

  • (b) its assessment shows that there is not enough affordable housing in its district.

  (2) The territorial authority must use the special consultative procedure to adopt an affordable housing policy.

  (3) The statement of proposal required by the special consultative procedure must include—

  • (a) a draft of the policy containing provisions that reflect sections 9 to 15; and

  • (b) a summary of the way in which the draft policy affects—

    • (i) the policies the authority has adopted under the Local Government Act 2002; and

    • (ii) the authority's district plan.

  (4) An authority that adopts an affordable housing policy must review it after identifying community outcomes under section 91 of the Local Government Act 2002.

  (5) An authority that wants to amend its affordable housing policy in a substantial way may follow subsection (1) and must follow subsections (2) and (3), but must not amend its policy in such a way as to stop it being an affordable housing policy.

  (6) An authority that wants to amend its affordable housing policy in a minor way must follow section 156(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 as if the policy were a bylaw.

  (7) An affordable housing policy may provide that an action described in the policy must or may be done by the territorial authority, a committee or other subordinate decision-making body of the territorial authority, or a member or officer of the territorial authority and may specify conditions applying to the doing of the action. This subsection does not limit or affect anything in the Local Government Act 2002.