Dunedin City Council

The Dunedin City Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also makes decisions about building and planning, local regulations, and infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage. The council is made up of 14 councillors and the mayor. This is a single transferable vote (STV) election, so you vote by ranking the candidates on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Dunedin City Council election.

Housing and planning

Local councils are responsible for land use planning under the Resource Management Act, which affects where and how new houses are constructed, as well as the design of cities and towns. In some areas, councils also provide housing to those who need it most.

Housing and planning

Local councils are responsible for land use planning under the Resource Management Act, which affects where and how new houses are constructed, as well as the design of cities and towns. In some areas, councils also provide housing to those who need it most.

  • Bring a motion to council to reinstate its investment in building up the community housing portfolio that was recently scrapped.

    Commit to zero tolerance for homelessness in Ōtepoti.

    Support the housing plan for Ōtepoti Dunedin, which seeks a home for everyone, as the guiding principles and goals underpin this document.

  • Investigate whether land-value rates would be a more equitable alternative to the current capital-value system.

    Investigate whether land-value rates would be a more equitable alternative to the current capital-value system.

    Provide a property inspection service for tenants to determine if their home is Healthy Homes Standards compliant.

    Provide a property inspection service for tenants to determine if their home is healthy homes standards compliant.

    Restore capital funding for expansion of community housing to the 9 Year Plan budget.

    Restore capital funding for expansion of community housing to the nine Year Plan budget.

  • Advocate for ensuring healthy homes and rental properties in particular for students and those on low income.

    Support council work and partnerships to reduce homelessness including council house provision.

    Support development of new suburbs to grow the city and limited high-density development.

  • Ensure building inspections are carried out properly and that building or design flaws, particularly in noddy houses, are picked up.

    Ensure the cost of building consents reflects the cost of efficient and proper delivery of the service to suppliers and occupants.

    Seek a permanent moratorium on development of high grade horticultural soils, which developers favour because they are flat, soft and profitable.

  • Sell Dunedin City Council's excess land to create hundreds of new housing sites.

    Assist respected community housing providers to provide more social housing as Dunedin City Council cannot afford to build them.

    Reduce Dunedin City Council regulations around noise, heritage and other factors to allow economic reuse of heritage buildings.

  • Design urban spaces and streetscapes that provide connectedness and cater for their local communities.

    Enforce and regulate healthy home standards through independent and authorised assessors.

    Establish an entity to provide social housing.

  • Encourage affordable housing developments through smart zoning changes.

    Promote higher-density housing in well-serviced urban areas.

    Streamline building consents to speed up housing delivery.

  • Investigate zoning requirements to encourage rent affordability.

    Address red-tape requirements for building consents and reduce delay, expense and unnecessary hoop jumping in the current model.

    Continue to lobby government around the strength of the building act so that council can act on demolition by neglect.

  • Commit to reinstating funding for community housing in the 2026/27 annual plan.

    Introduce a rental WOF to improve the standard of rental housing in the city.

    Resource an outreach team to address the complex needs of those who find themselves homeless in Ōtepoti.

  • Freeze rent and implement income-based subsidies.

    Have partnerships with shareholders such as council, government, private investors, social groups and local organisations to build homes.

    Make housing affordable by looking into alternatives for building costs of materials, supply, land supply and building consents.

  • Ensure that council properties are available, up to standard and meet needs.

    Establish a council position with a core focus on eliminating homelessness by coordinating services and dealing with causes of homelessness.

    Grow community gardens as a community point for the good of all, socially, economically and for health reasons.

  • Audit unutilised council properties for usability and work alongside groups that provide social value to utilise some of these spaces.

    Change rates policy to be based solely on land value rather than capital value to avoid punishing homeowners for improving their properties.

    Require all new subdivisions to have sufficient green space, shopping and dining options and public transport.

  • Shift incentives of urban development towards high-quality residential builds in urban areas.

    Support initiatives that unite a range of public and private stakeholders and explore innovative solutions, eg Otago Housing Alliance.

    Target prevention funding to address homelessness, as well as wraparound services, eg HomeGround in Auckland.

  • Allow residents to build and enjoy their land without interference or costly delays from council.

    Cut red tape so building new homes becomes faster, cheaper and involves a lot less bureaucracy.

    Ensure that zoning rules and infrastructure provide enough housing to meet demand without pushing up rates.

  • Address the poor state of rental housing stock in Dunedin and make landlords comply with healthy homes standards.

    Advocate strongly for more community housing rather than less.

    Work with local community groups and central government to collaboratively address the worsening homelessness issue.

  • Advocate for affordable safe housing for working whānau through non-financial incentives such as conditional zoning and consent exemptions.

    Create a pre-approved designs pattern book modelled after the NSW housing pattern book to fast-track better housing at lower costs.

    Oppose redesignation of LUC3 agricultural land to prevent unsustainable expansion and keep housing development within the city.

  • Reduce administrative red tape as bureaucracy is a cancer.

    Study the model for council-owned housing in Vienna, where there are no homeless people.

    Transfer liability from council to builder as is done in Australia.

  • Commit to building more community and emergency housing whilst advocating for increased funding at local and national levels.

    Develop a rental WOF inspection service to determine compliance with healthy homes standards, mitigating tension between tenants and landlords.

    Establish an accessible and sustainable city plan through collaboration with community experts and local iwi.

  • Build more affordable public housing.

    Incentivise the building of affordable homes.

    Penalise ratepayers who hold homes empty.

  • Advocate at both local and central government levels for more community and emergency housing funding and support DCC to reinstate the community housing budget.

    Implement a rental WOF system for new and existing builds, including planning for noise in the central city.

    Work in partnership with expert organisations to develop a long-term vision for a more livable and sustainable urban city centre.

  • Enable quality, affordable housing by freeing up council owned land, smarter zoning and incentivising developments that meet community needs.

    Fix building and resource consent delays by streamlining processes and holding the council accountable for meeting timelines.

    Target an end to homelessness through a housing-first approach supported by coordinated wrap-around services with strong council leadership.

  • Work with an already interested party to build social housing.

    Work with government to improve transitional housing provision.

    Work with students association on a healthy homes compliance plan.

  • Ensure all council planning respects and protects treasured heritage and heritage architecture as a key strength of Dunedin's assets.

    Raise housing standards by addressing housing quality standards and ensuring Healthy Homes laws are monitored and enforced by central or local government.

    Work with partners to bring a Housing First model to Dunedin to address zero functional homelessness.

  • Encourage new housing development through less costly compliance regulations and speed up the consent process to entice investment.

    Lead and bring together business, government agencies, social agencies and community providers to provide shelter for the homeless.

    Strategically release industrial land already owned by the DCC to encourage new enterprise.

  • Enforce the Healthy Homes Standards to improve rental quality and protect tenants.

    Expand council housing to provide more affordable homes for low-income residents.

    Fund homelessness services that provide housing-first support and wraparound care.

  • Ensure consultation with all affected parties.

    Balance the impact of increased housing development costs against the need to protect the environment.

    Consider the impact of higher density housing and the more complex issues around the quality of new builds and vacant properties.

  • Slash building consent times by half using AI and remote inspections to make it faster and cheaper to build quality housing.

  • Change the culture by getting council and investors on the same side, promoting the sustainable growth and development of Dunedin instead of conflict.

    End unsheltered homelessness in Dunedin targeting zero by using the mayoral platform to coordinate a response from all agencies through Housing First.

    Release unused council land and buildings for affordable developments and community housing providers and offer real incentives in this space.

  • Build more accessible and universal design social housing units to address the homelessness issue.

    Continue to advocate to central government to build more Kāinga Ora housing in Ōtepoti Dunedin.

    Implement rentals warrant of fitness checks to ensure compliance with healthy homes standards are adequately met.

  • Bring a motion to council to reinstate its investment in building up the community housing portfolio that was recently scrapped.

    Commit to zero tolerance for homelessness in Ōtepoti.

    Support the housing plan for Ōtepoti Dunedin, which seeks a home for everyone, as the guiding principles and goals underpin this document.

  • Investigate whether land-value rates would be a more equitable alternative to the current capital-value system.

    Investigate whether land-value rates would be a more equitable alternative to the current capital-value system.

    Provide a property inspection service for tenants to determine if their home is Healthy Homes Standards compliant.

    Provide a property inspection service for tenants to determine if their home is healthy homes standards compliant.

    Restore capital funding for expansion of community housing to the 9 Year Plan budget.

    Restore capital funding for expansion of community housing to the nine Year Plan budget.

  • Advocate for ensuring healthy homes and rental properties in particular for students and those on low income.

    Support council work and partnerships to reduce homelessness including council house provision.

    Support development of new suburbs to grow the city and limited high-density development.

  • Ensure building inspections are carried out properly and that building or design flaws, particularly in noddy houses, are picked up.

    Ensure the cost of building consents reflects the cost of efficient and proper delivery of the service to suppliers and occupants.

    Seek a permanent moratorium on development of high grade horticultural soils, which developers favour because they are flat, soft and profitable.

  • Sell Dunedin City Council's excess land to create hundreds of new housing sites.

    Assist respected community housing providers to provide more social housing as Dunedin City Council cannot afford to build them.

    Reduce Dunedin City Council regulations around noise, heritage and other factors to allow economic reuse of heritage buildings.

  • Design urban spaces and streetscapes that provide connectedness and cater for their local communities.

    Enforce and regulate healthy home standards through independent and authorised assessors.

    Establish an entity to provide social housing.

  • Encourage affordable housing developments through smart zoning changes.

    Promote higher-density housing in well-serviced urban areas.

    Streamline building consents to speed up housing delivery.

  • Investigate zoning requirements to encourage rent affordability.

    Address red-tape requirements for building consents and reduce delay, expense and unnecessary hoop jumping in the current model.

    Continue to lobby government around the strength of the building act so that council can act on demolition by neglect.

  • Commit to reinstating funding for community housing in the 2026/27 annual plan.

    Introduce a rental WOF to improve the standard of rental housing in the city.

    Resource an outreach team to address the complex needs of those who find themselves homeless in Ōtepoti.

  • Freeze rent and implement income-based subsidies.

    Have partnerships with shareholders such as council, government, private investors, social groups and local organisations to build homes.

    Make housing affordable by looking into alternatives for building costs of materials, supply, land supply and building consents.

  • Ensure that council properties are available, up to standard and meet needs.

    Establish a council position with a core focus on eliminating homelessness by coordinating services and dealing with causes of homelessness.

    Grow community gardens as a community point for the good of all, socially, economically and for health reasons.

  • Audit unutilised council properties for usability and work alongside groups that provide social value to utilise some of these spaces.

    Change rates policy to be based solely on land value rather than capital value to avoid punishing homeowners for improving their properties.

    Require all new subdivisions to have sufficient green space, shopping and dining options and public transport.

  • Shift incentives of urban development towards high-quality residential builds in urban areas.

    Support initiatives that unite a range of public and private stakeholders and explore innovative solutions, eg Otago Housing Alliance.

    Target prevention funding to address homelessness, as well as wraparound services, eg HomeGround in Auckland.

  • Allow residents to build and enjoy their land without interference or costly delays from council.

    Cut red tape so building new homes becomes faster, cheaper and involves a lot less bureaucracy.

    Ensure that zoning rules and infrastructure provide enough housing to meet demand without pushing up rates.

  • Address the poor state of rental housing stock in Dunedin and make landlords comply with healthy homes standards.

    Advocate strongly for more community housing rather than less.

    Work with local community groups and central government to collaboratively address the worsening homelessness issue.

  • Advocate for affordable safe housing for working whānau through non-financial incentives such as conditional zoning and consent exemptions.

    Create a pre-approved designs pattern book modelled after the NSW housing pattern book to fast-track better housing at lower costs.

    Oppose redesignation of LUC3 agricultural land to prevent unsustainable expansion and keep housing development within the city.

  • Reduce administrative red tape as bureaucracy is a cancer.

    Study the model for council-owned housing in Vienna, where there are no homeless people.

    Transfer liability from council to builder as is done in Australia.

  • Commit to building more community and emergency housing whilst advocating for increased funding at local and national levels.

    Develop a rental WOF inspection service to determine compliance with healthy homes standards, mitigating tension between tenants and landlords.

    Establish an accessible and sustainable city plan through collaboration with community experts and local iwi.

  • Build more affordable public housing.

    Incentivise the building of affordable homes.

    Penalise ratepayers who hold homes empty.

  • Advocate at both local and central government levels for more community and emergency housing funding and support DCC to reinstate the community housing budget.

    Implement a rental WOF system for new and existing builds, including planning for noise in the central city.

    Work in partnership with expert organisations to develop a long-term vision for a more livable and sustainable urban city centre.

  • Enable quality, affordable housing by freeing up council owned land, smarter zoning and incentivising developments that meet community needs.

    Fix building and resource consent delays by streamlining processes and holding the council accountable for meeting timelines.

    Target an end to homelessness through a housing-first approach supported by coordinated wrap-around services with strong council leadership.

  • Work with an already interested party to build social housing.

    Work with government to improve transitional housing provision.

    Work with students association on a healthy homes compliance plan.

  • Ensure all council planning respects and protects treasured heritage and heritage architecture as a key strength of Dunedin's assets.

    Raise housing standards by addressing housing quality standards and ensuring Healthy Homes laws are monitored and enforced by central or local government.

    Work with partners to bring a Housing First model to Dunedin to address zero functional homelessness.

  • Encourage new housing development through less costly compliance regulations and speed up the consent process to entice investment.

    Lead and bring together business, government agencies, social agencies and community providers to provide shelter for the homeless.

    Strategically release industrial land already owned by the DCC to encourage new enterprise.

  • Enforce the Healthy Homes Standards to improve rental quality and protect tenants.

    Expand council housing to provide more affordable homes for low-income residents.

    Fund homelessness services that provide housing-first support and wraparound care.

  • Ensure consultation with all affected parties.

    Balance the impact of increased housing development costs against the need to protect the environment.

    Consider the impact of higher density housing and the more complex issues around the quality of new builds and vacant properties.

  • Slash building consent times by half using AI and remote inspections to make it faster and cheaper to build quality housing.

  • Change the culture by getting council and investors on the same side, promoting the sustainable growth and development of Dunedin instead of conflict.

    End unsheltered homelessness in Dunedin targeting zero by using the mayoral platform to coordinate a response from all agencies through Housing First.

    Release unused council land and buildings for affordable developments and community housing providers and offer real incentives in this space.

  • Build more accessible and universal design social housing units to address the homelessness issue.

    Continue to advocate to central government to build more Kāinga Ora housing in Ōtepoti Dunedin.

    Implement rentals warrant of fitness checks to ensure compliance with healthy homes standards are adequately met.