Something which doesn’t sit well with Manurewa-Papakura ward councillor Daniel Newman. “What we have seen in recent years is a default to developing in locations that are relatively cheap and easy, places in the outer suburbs where land has been consented previously,” Newman said. He said such an approach has led to an increase in urban sprawl without the necessary public transport infrastructure to support it. Abigail Dougherty/Stuff Auckland University professor of urban planning Elham Bahmanteymouri explains why Kiwis have poured so much capital into housing, while other countries are content to rent. (Video first published in July 2021)