Insight for Sunday 30 March 2014

The shortage and cost of housing in Auckland remains one of its biggest challenges.

This year a raft of new policies and initiatives will begin to bear fruit.

They include new technology and designs aimed to create lower-cost, more affordable homes. There is also the  fast-tracking of consents in the Special Housing Areas created by the Government and Auckland Council.

But can these initiatives change the direction of Auckland's housing market, or will rising interest rates and restrictions on lending soften their effectiveness.

Radio New Zealand's Auckland Correspondent, Todd Niall, weighs up the possibly conflicting forces at work.