Bishop says he cannot legally pause fast-tracked housing developments as four mayors demand halt

Housing Minister Chris Bishop says he has no legal power to pause fast-tracked housing developments, and a law change would be required — one he is not proposing. Mayors of Auckland, Queenstown, Waimakariri, and Selwyn are seeking a halt, citing developments consented before water, roading, and treatment infrastructure is funded or built. Bishop says the fast-track system was designed for out-of-sequence development and is working as intended.