New Zealand will radically ease zoning rules to try to ease housing shortage

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand will drastically ease zoning restrictions in a bid to "flood the market" with land for homes and override the powers of local councils to curb development, the nation's housing minister said in announcing reforms to what he called one of the world's least affordable housing markets. "It's about allowing maximum choice and opportunity for people to build and develop," said the minister, Chris Bishop, in a speech in Auckland this week. "Let's get away from the...