Fairfax’s Peter Hartcher believes that housing policy is New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Achilles Heel:
Ardern promised to lead a “government of transformation” and 2019 was to be “the year of delivery”. In fact, she committed a distinctly unmagical act: “She’s overpromised and undelivered,” says James. Mills, Labour’s pollster, agrees that this is fair. Asked which line of criticism of Ardern is most valid, he replied, “Delivery.”
She took power promising to solve real-world problems. A signature promise – housing affordability – has become a signal failure. NZ home prices are among the world’s least affordable compared to income…
