Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycling will be riled)
A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements.
The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets.
It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act which it describes as win/win for renters and landlords.
Regulation Minister David Seymour says the policy will fix the problem of tenants being locked out of rental markets due to landlords not being willing to take a risk on tenants with pets.
Mind you, they will have to pay more for the privilege and the change will be of benefit only to tenants who are willing to pay extra to live in their preferred home with their pets.
“More landlords would be willing to allow pets if they could protect themselves from some of the risks,” he said.
But in the upshot, if the landlord says no to pets, then pet owners will have to look for housing somewhere else.
The changes to the legislation include:
Regulation Minister David Seymour says the policy will fix the problem of tenants being locked out of rental markets due to landlords not being willing to take a risk on tenants with pets.
Mind you, they will have to pay more for the privilege and the change will be of benefit only to tenants who are willing to pay extra to live in their preferred home with their pets.
“More landlords would be willing to allow pets if they could protect themselves from some of the risks,” he said.
But in the upshot, if the landlord says no to pets, then pet owners will have to look for housing somewhere else.
The changes to the legislation include:
- Introducing a pet bond (set at a maximum of two weeks rent) that can be charged in addition to the existing bond,
- Making tenants liable for all pet damage to properties beyond fair wear and tear. This means a tenant is fully liable for any accidental or careless damage caused by pets, as well as any intentional damage,
- Requiring that tenants may only have a pet or pets with the consent of the landlord, who can withhold consent on reasonable grounds.
The policy would also help victims of domestic abuse move on with their lives, Seymour said.
“ Often, people stay in relationships to look after pets and become stuck. Helping these people find rentals that are accepting of pets will allow them to move on safely and have a brighter future.”
Then there’s news not of something the government has decided to do, but of something it has asked the NZ Transport Agency to think about doing.
It has asked the NZTA to consider and provide advice on the option of a Long Tunnel for State Highway One in Wellington.
This is bound to generate heated debate in Wellington, where policies that do not encourage more citizens to get on their bikes are considered backward and climate warming.
But Transport Minister Simeon Brown does not have to stand for re-election in an electorate within easy cycling distance of the city boundaries.
He says State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZTA to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option.
“The Long Tunnel option has the potential to deliver up to 15-minute travel time savings between the region and Wellington airport, compared to around 2-3 minutes for the current parallel or diagonal tunnel proposals at Mt Victoria and the Basin.
“The option would also see better urban amenity through greater reallocation of surface level road space to active modes and public transport in the CBD and greater opportunities for housing intensification. Enhanced regional connectivity to the airport and hospital would also be achieved with reduced city and state highway congestion.
“The option would also mean less construction disruption for local traffic as the Long Tunnel option could be built with less disruption to the city centre and less impact on public and private properties required for other options.
“To rebuild our economy and ensure people and freight can get to where they need to go quickly and safely, we need to move at pace to deliver the infrastructure our country needs.
“I look forward to receiving advice from NZTA on the technical feasibility, cost, and funding and financing options for this proposal as NZTA works on delivering the Government’s priority of a second Mt Victoria Tunnel in Wellington.”
The press statements on pets and tunnels can be found on the Government’s official website –
Latest from the Beehive
15 APRIL 2024
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chr
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option.
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Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
1 comment:
Nevermind the tunnel, what was truly amazing about TV1's 6pm News coverage (15/04) was the 'cut' to the public reaction part wherein they sought the views of a local taxi driver. He wasn't too fussed with the idea given he probably wouldn't be around to see/use it - after all he was only 92!
Therein was a News item in itself - where else in the 'first world' do you find a taxi driver still at it at NINETY-TWO?
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