PM Luxon Unveils Q4 Plan Focused on Growth, Housing and Economic Reform

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has outlined the Government’s Quarter 4 (Q4) work programme, describing it as a blueprint for accelerating growth, removing regulatory barriers, and empowering New Zealanders to innovate and invest.

Luxon said the Government’s guiding principle is one of “a lot more yes and a lot less no”, signalling a clear shift towards enabling action and economic expansion across key sectors.

“This Government is about saying yes — yes to growth, yes to investment, yes to progress,” Luxon declared. “We are focused on making construction easier and faster, delivering smarter solutions to finance new projects like social housing, and pushing for more competition and innovation.”

Cutting Red Tape and Accelerating Development

The Prime Minister emphasised that too many promising projects in recent years have been held back by bureaucracy and outdated systems. The new plan aims to cut through red tape, streamline planning and consenting processes, and unlock opportunities for individuals and businesses.

“The planning system we will introduce to Parliament this quarter will enable farmers, building owners and businesses to do more with their own property,” Luxon said. “It will remove the reams of paperwork that have been holding back growth and productivity.”

This legislation will overhaul current planning laws to give property owners more autonomy and reduce approval delays that often stall agricultural, commercial, and residential developments.

Boosting Urban Growth and Housing Supply

A major focus of the Q4 programme is addressing New Zealand’s housing shortage and the infrastructure bottlenecks that have slowed urban development.

“We’re pressing go on urban growth and more houses by introducing a law that will modernise how housing developments and infrastructure are financed,” Luxon said.

The proposed modern financing model aims to attract more private and institutional investment into large-scale housing and infrastructure projects, reducing reliance on government borrowing. It will also make it easier for developers and councils to fund essential public works such as roads, water systems, and community facilities.

This initiative builds on the Government’s wider housing reform agenda, which includes simplifying planning rules, incentivising faster construction, and improving coordination between local and central authorities.

Fast-Tracking Competition and Market Growth

Another key element of the Q4 plan is boosting competition in the retail and grocery sectors, which the Government views as critical to lowering consumer prices and improving economic fairness.

“We’re pushing for more competition by creating an express lane to build new supermarkets under Fast-Track,” Luxon explained.

The new Fast-Track Consenting framework will allow major private investments — including supermarket and retail developments — to be approved in a fraction of the time currently required. This move aims to challenge market dominance, lower food costs, and increase consumer choice across the country.

Managing Earthquake-Prone Buildings More Efficiently

Luxon also announced the Government’s intention to reform the management of earthquake-prone buildings, a longstanding issue for building owners and councils.

The new system, expected to save more than $8.2 billion, will streamline compliance requirements while maintaining public safety standards.

“This change will take away anxiety and stress for thousands of building owners who have faced uncertainty and spiralling costs,” Luxon said. “It’s a pragmatic, evidence-based solution that protects people and supports investment in our built environment.”

Driving Growth and Lifting Incomes Nationwide

The Prime Minister underscored that these initiatives are not isolated policies, but interconnected measures designed to spark nationwide growth.

“There is no shortage of New Zealanders with great ideas for exciting projects, but they face too many obstacles bringing them to life,” he said. “The sum of the actions in our Q4 plan will help get things moving. Growth will boost job opportunities and help increase incomes around the country.”

Luxon reiterated his belief that economic growth is the foundation for prosperity, enabling more investment in public services, better job opportunities, and higher wages.

“These aren’t just words on a page,” he said. “These are genuinely transformational actions that will change the game for ambitious Kiwis who want to build things, grow their businesses, employ more people, and contribute to a stronger economic future for New Zealand.”

A Quarter of Action and Delivery

The Q4 plan forms part of the Government’s broader multi-year reform agenda, focused on rebuilding confidence in the economy, simplifying regulations, and delivering results.

With legislative changes targeting planning, housing, competition, and resilience, Luxon’s message is clear: the Government intends to replace delay with delivery — and bureaucracy with opportunity.