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MULTI AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPER
Vol 44, No 25
General 271 8000 ■ Classified 271 8055 ■ Delivery Enquiries 271 8014 ■ Website www.times.co.nz
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER
TIMES NEWSPAPERS HAVE
MOVED OFFICES TO: Nursing flows in the blood of mother Botany Town Centre and daughter practice nurse Level 2 team Christine Fergusson and Fountain Lane Elise Adams. Page 3
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Housing: The only way is up I
NTENSIFICATION doesn’t have to be a dirty word. By being a design-led city, Auckland can build value into intensification and look and feel like a truly global city, according to Auckland Council’s new chief economist, Chris Parker. The Proposed Unitary Plan, he says, allows for more intensification than the legacy district plans. It gives greater ability for practical reuse of land within existing urban areas and for development beyond the Metropolitan Urban Limit. “But one could have expected higher densities and more height in areas near the city centre, and the market seems to be signalling this demand too,” he says. “This has not been achieved consistently in the proposed plan.” He’s warning SuperCity residents to be aware of the risks involved in not allowing intensification of areas close to the city centre. In his first quarterly newsletter, he says the region’s strong growth is reflected in its housing market, fuelled by a mix of increasing economic
INSIDE
activity and migraland. This helps tion from within keep the dream of New Zealand and home ownership abroad. for younger genera“Two of the most tions,” he says. significant features Reducing the risk of the Auckland of land price colhousing market lapse also reduces are the high cost of the risk to the land, driving house national economy prices higher, and CHRIS PARKER and the financial the comparatively sector, he says. affordable rents,” he says. The chances of big rent However, disconnection increases, Mr Parker says, are between land prices and rents slight, as rents are dependent cannot last. upon income and Auckland “The housing market is sig- competes for loose-footed nalling the need to use exist- people who could move to ing land differently, to allow Australia or elsewhere in New intensification. If land use Zealand for a better deal. regulations prevent this, then While acknowledging his land will become less valuable comments don’t necessarily and the risk of a major price reflect what the council’s evicorrection becomes more dence may be at the Proposed real.” Auckland Unitary Plan hearIntensification, he says, ings, he believes that the proallows land owners to enjoy a posed rules, as set out in the greater yield by having more plan, “don’t appear to allow dwellings on a site. Allowing for enough opportunities to land to generate more cash intensify areas close to the city flow closes the disconnec- centre”. tion between land prices and The Auckland Economic rents. Quarterly Newsletter is online “More dwellings per site at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ in the central area will ease chiefeconomist. the housing supply and house ■ What do you think? Email price issues because more us your thoughts, mariannek@ dwellings share the cost of times.co.nz.
Letters to the Editor................................................. page 2 Special Easter anniversary ..................................... page 5
ALADDIN: Melody Lui-Webster, left, and William Crozier will play Princess Jasmine and Aladdin in the Harlequin Musical Theatre production of Disney’s Aladdin JR. Times photo Wayne Martin
Wishes, hopes and dreams FIFTY musical youngsters will take to the stage to tell a classic tale of forbidden love, good over evil and a magical carpet ride. Disney’s Aladdin JR will be presented at the Harlequin Musical Theatre next month. Expect to be transported back in time to ancient Persia where a young street urchin, Aladdin, played
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one of the Von Trappe children in last year’s production of The Sound of Music in Auckland and Wellington. She says Aladdin JR is a great experience, having never had a lead role before. Meanwhile William’s Aladdin role is his first time on stage and he says he’s “very excited and maybe a little nervous”. ➤ Turn to Page 3
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by William Crozier, of Owairoa School, has to steal food to stay alive. By chance he encounters the beautiful Princess Jasmine, played by Melody Lui-Webster, of Pakuranga Heights School, who’s escaped her repressive world and predetermined life. While still only 10 years old, Melody is already successful in musical theatre, having played
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By MARIANNE KELLY