Better things are possible

Improving Local Government Representation in New Zealand

Local government elections in New Zealand face persistent challenges with low voter turnout and a shortage of candidates.

Aug 6 • 

Malcolm McCracken

16

1

July 2025

Supermarket shake-up: How fast-track and government land could boost competition

The grocery sector has faced growing scrutiny over recent years, with two main players, Woolworths New Zealand (Woolworths, Fresh Choice and Supervalue…

Jul 7 • 

Malcolm McCracken

8

4

April 2025

How land prices shape development patterns

Land values are an underdiscussed (outside of a small corner of economists and nerds) but important topic we should want more planners, policy analysts…

Apr 14 • 

Malcolm McCracken

26

6

February 2025

Maximising the value from our investment in the City Rail link

New Zealand’s largest infrastructure project, the City Rail Link (CRL), is expected to open in 2026.

Feb 4 • 

Malcolm McCracken

32

5

September 2024

Managing on-street parking for local benefit; the case for Parking Benefit Districts

Parking is often the centre of debate in our cities, particularly on-street car parks, who gets to use them and how we manage them.

Sep 9, 2024 • 

Malcolm McCracken

23

1

July 2024

Let your city flourish

Supply side commercial interventions

Jul 2, 2024 • 

Malcolm McCracken

19

June 2024

Understanding our housing needs - New Zealand's Housing Survey

Housing enablement has been a regular feature of this substack.

Jun 4, 2024 • 

Malcolm McCracken

13

1

March 2024

Graduated Density Zoning, a condition for opting out of the Medium Density Residential Standards?

Last week, in a speech to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Minister for Housing and Infrastructure, Chris Bishop, noted that fixing our housing…

Mar 4, 2024 • 

Malcolm McCracken

17

3

February 2024

The state of our railways - How did we get here and how do we get back on track?

On Monday, Azaria Howell reported in the NZ Herald, that in Wellington “replacing trains with buses on maintenance days is expected to be the norm for…

Feb 27, 2024 • 

Malcolm McCracken

14

2

The tale of two TODs

The contrasting story of transit oriented development in New Lynn and Avondale

Feb 6, 2024 • 

Malcolm McCracken

 and 

Darren Davis

18

January 2024

The Labour Government's record on housing and the challenges for the incoming government

A centrepiece of Better things are possible has been discussing housing policy and outcomes.

Jan 10, 2024 • 

Malcolm McCracken

28

November 2023

How National can save the Medium Density Residential Standards

And win the ACT Party’s support in the process.

Published on Yes In Our Backyards • Nov 23, 2023