Election 2026: Green Party releases plan to boost ‘vibrancy’ of Auckland central
The Green Party has proposed a new policy to revitalize Auckland's central business district by allowing councils to auction leases on long-term vacant shops. The policy also aims to eliminate 'ratchet clauses' in commercial leases to ensure rents can decrease during economic downturns.
Why it matters
This policy addresses urban vacancy rates and small business sustainability in the wake of major infrastructure projects like the City Rail Link.
The Green Party is promising to introduce new retail rent mechanisms designed to fill empty shops and increase the vibes of central cities if elected.
The party will campaign on allowing councils to run rental auctions on shops and business spaces that have been empty for more than a year, and to tweak commercial market rent reviews to ensure that rents can be decreased as well as increased.
The policy applies across the country, but the party makes specific mention of Auckland, which has faced “years of construction and disruption” during the development of the City Rail Link (CRL).
“We can and must make the most of our awesome new City Rail Link by actively supporting vibrancy, which in turn makes our city safer,” Auckland Central MP and party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick said.
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