Tamati Coffey Labour MP

I'm glad the Waiariki can see that this Government is tackling the long-term challenges facing our families – challenges like climate change and housing that the previous Government left in the ‘too hard' basket.

Our rangatahi will be proud to know that under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's leadership, we have taken further action on climate change and appointed Dr Rod Carr as chair-designate for the Climate Change Commission.

The Commission have a critical role in helping Aotearoa transition to a low-emissions economy, keeping us on track and holding successive governments accountable to our emissions budgets.

In terms of housing, we are walking alongside hapu, in partnership, to empower investment-ready papakainga projects.

More than $2.7 million was recently invested into Ranginui 12 Trust's plan to develop nine local housing sites and reconnect whanau with their whenua in a kaupapa Maori community.

In further good news for Tauranga's building industry, this Government is cutting the red tape of the Building Act and making it easier to build warm, dry homes for our people.

For manufacturers with proven compliant systems, there will be a new streamlined nationwide consenting process for prefab' buildings that will enable the mass production of high-quality buildings, slash the likely number of building inspections for factory-produced buildings in half, and ensure only the location where a prefab house is installed requires a building consent.

A suite of other long overdue changes have also been agreed to, making the Building Act finally fit for the 21st century. Find details at: www.building.govt.nz