Coalition for More Homes

1. Business / Trading Name: Coalition for More Homes (also referred to as the Coalition for More Homes NZ).

2. Company number: Data Not Found (the coalition is not registered as a company in New Zealand).

3. NZBN: Data Not Found (no New Zealand Business Number – the coalition does not appear to be a registered legal entity).

4. Entity type: Unincorporated advocacy coalition (not a registered company or incorporated society).

5. Business classification: Data Not Found (not formally classified under NZ business categories; operates as an issue-based lobby/advocacy group).

6. Industry Category: Public policy advocacy / Housing and urban development lobbying. (LinkedIn lists it under “Public Policy Offices”).

7. Year founded: 2016. (Launched in August 2016 during Auckland’s Unitary Plan debate; reactivated in 2021 in response to new housing laws).

8. Addresses: Data Not Found. (No physical or registered address is publicly listed; uses online contact methods and ad-hoc event venues).

9. Website URL: morehomes.nz (official site). (Historical site in 2016: coalitionformorehomes.org.nz, now inactive).

10. LinkedIn URL: linkedin.com/company/coalition-for-more-homes-nz (Organization page, ~650 followers).

11. Company Hub NZ URL: No listing on Company Hub (not a registered company).

12. NZ Companies Office URL: No listing with Companies Office (the coalition is not registered as a separate legal entity).

13. Social Media URLs:

    • Twitter (X): twitter.com/morehomesnz (active since July 2016).

    • Facebook: facebook.com/morehomesnz.

(The coalition uses social media to share updates and guides for supporters.)

14. Ultimate Holding Company: None. (The coalition is a standalone alliance of groups and individuals, with no parent company or holding entity.).

15. Key Shareholders: None. (As it is not a company, there are no shareholders. Its “stakeholders” are member organisations and supporters.).

16. Leadership: No formal executives are publicly listed. The coalition appears to be led by volunteer spokespeople and a coordinating committee from member groups. Known figures include:

    • Scott Caldwell – Spokesperson (Auckland).

    • Oscar Sims – Spokesperson (Wellington).

    • (Founding coordinator in 2016: Leroy Beckett of Generation Zero, who convened the initial launch).*

17. Staff: No paid staff are listed; campaign work is driven by volunteers from member organisations. (The coalition’s communications (e.g. press releases, submission guides) are produced by activists and experts aligned with its cause rather than dedicated employees.)

18. Staff that have held previous government roles: Data Not Found. (No publicly identified staff with prior government office. Notably, a coalition economist expert was formerly in Auckland Council’s Chief Economist Unit, but he was engaged as an external expert, not as staff.)

19. Past Employees: Not applicable. The coalition’s key contributors have been volunteers or secondees from member groups. (For example, Leroy Beckett – who led the 2016 launch – later moved on to other roles in advocacy and politics).

20. Clients: None. (The coalition does not operate as a consultancy or service provider; it advocates for policy changes in the public interest, not on behalf of paying clients.).

21. Industries/sectors represented: A broad range related to housing and urban development :

    • Community housing & social development: e.g. CORT (Community of Refuge Trust), Habitat for Humanity.

    • Property development & real estate: e.g. Ockham Residential, Rockhopper Developments, Solution Street.

    • Urban planning, architecture & transport: e.g. MRCagney (planning consultancy), Auckland Architecture Association, Bike Auckland.

    • Advocacy & special interest groups: e.g. Generation Zero (youth climate/housing), Greater Auckland (urban issues think-tank), Women in Urbanism, Forever Affordable Homes.

    • Economic and policy think tanks: e.g. The New Zealand Initiative (a pro-market think tank).

    • Trade unions: e.g. Unite Union.

(This diverse membership illustrates the coalition’s claim of spanning the political spectrum).

22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements:

    • Open Letter to Auckland Council (2016): Published an open letter urging councillors to adopt the Auckland Unitary Plan, with 15 organisations as signatories.

    • Auckland Unitary Plan Hearings (2016): Held a media launch event and wrote to Council in support of the Plan.

    • Parliamentary Advocacy (2021): Welcomed and supported the bipartisan Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply) Amendment Bill enabling medium-density housing. Issued press releases praising the cross-party approach to upzoning.

    • Submissions on Auckland Plan Change 78 (2022–2023): Actively submitted to Auckland Council’s NPS-UD intensification plan (PC78). The coalition filed formal submissions and commissioned expert evidence (e.g. economic analysis on viewshaft height limits) to advocate for fewer restrictive “qualifying matters”. Coalition representatives (including Caldwell) appeared at hearings to argue for maximal housing capacity near transit.

    • Submissions on Other Councils’ Plans (2022–2023): Submitted on Wellington City’s district plan to apply urban density along future mass transit routes. Supported submissions in Lower Hutt (Plan Change 56) calling for stronger medium-density standards.

    • Lobbying Government Ministers (2022–2024): Sent letters and public pleas to Ministers to enforce or strengthen intensification rules. (E.g. in 2022 and 2024, urged Ministers to reject Auckland Council’s attempts to delay implementing new housing rules). In mid-2024 the coalition “welcomed” the Housing Minister’s directive forcing councils to plan for 30 years of growth – implying behind-the-scenes advocacy for that outcome.

    • OIA Requests (2022): Used the Official Information Act to obtain information on various agencies’ submissions to Auckland’s housing plan (filing requests to MBIE, Kāinga Ora, etc., under the coalition’s name). (This indicates a research and watchdog approach to inform their lobbying.)

    • Public Mobilisation Campaigns: Published a public submission guide to help Aucklanders support Plan Change 78 in late 2022. Continues to share “how to submit” guides for notified development projects in Auckland (e.g. encouraging positive submissions for new apartment proposals on Dominion Road and Half Moon Bay in 2024).

    • Press Statements & Media Engagement: Frequent press releases and media commentary highlighting council decisions and government policy. For example, regularly issuing statements on housing policy changes and being quoted in news media as a pro-housing lobby voice. Spokesperson Scott Caldwell has appeared in TV news segments and newspapers (e.g. walking a news crew through his apartment to illustrate the need for density).

23. Affiliations: The Coalition is essentially a network of affiliated organisations united for pro-housing advocacy. Key affiliations (members) include: Generation Zero, Greater Auckland, Habitat for Humanity, NZ Green Building Council, Bike Auckland, Women in Urbanism Aotearoa, Community Housing providers (e.g. CORT), private developers (e.g. Ockham Residential), economic think tanks (The NZ Initiative), and others as listed on its website. It has also collaborated with groups like A City for People and Greater Auckland on joint statements. The breadth of affiliates – from a large property developers’ lobby (Property Council NZ) to trade unions (Unite), and from environmentalists to economists – underscores an unusual alliance. There are no known formal international affiliations, though the coalition draws inspiration from and contributes to the broader “Yes In My Back Yard” (YIMBY) movement advocating housing growth.

24. Sponsorships / Collaborations: No corporate sponsorships are publicly disclosed. The coalition’s activities seem funded in-kind by member organisations and volunteers. Collaborations: It frequently works in concert with other advocacy groups on campaigns. For instance, in May 2023 it issued a joint press release alongside Generation Zero and others, pressuring a political party to stick with housing density commitments. Coalition volunteers have also attended or spoken at events hosted by aligned groups (e.g. housing forums, council workshops) to present a united front for reform. (There is no indication of the coalition sponsoring events or projects; rather, it lends its voice to collaborative efforts.)

25. Events (held or organised by this organisation): Inaugural Launch Event on 1 August 2016 in Ponsonby, Auckland, featuring speakers from member groups and media attendance. This press conference served to publicly announce the coalition’s formation and deliver its open letter to Auckland Council. After re-forming in 2021, the coalition itself hasn’t widely advertised public meetings under its banner; instead, its representatives participate in partner events and public hearings. (For example, coalition spokespeople present at council hearing sessions on plan changes, essentially acting as event participants rather than organisers.) The coalition also occasionally hosts online discussions via social media. However, aside from the 2016 launch, “Events” per se are limited – their focus has been on submissions, media statements, and providing resources for public engagement.

26. Political Donations: No recorded political donations by the coalition as an entity. (Because the coalition is not a formal corporate body with funds, it has not made donations to political parties or candidates, according to publicly available donation records.) Individual members of its network (for example, property developers or executives of member organisations) may donate in their own capacity, but such contributions are not on behalf of the coalition. Transparency gap: The coalition does not publish financial reports, so if any funding flows to political causes, it isn’t openly reported – but to date there’s no evidence of the coalition itself funding politicians.

27. Controversies: The Coalition for More Homes has drawn ire from anti-development groups and some local politicians, though direct controversies about the coalition’s conduct are few (in part due to its semi-informal structure). Key points of contention include:

    • Astroturfing Allegations: Detractors have insinuated that the coalition is an “astroturf” front for developers – aligning with a global narrative that YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) groups are secretly backed by real-estate interests. The coalition’s inclusion of for-profit developers and a business-funded think tank has fueled perceptions that it may be advancing corporate interests under the guise of grassroots activism. However, the coalition also includes non-profits and community groups, making it a complex mix rather than a pure industry lobby. Still, the lack of formal disclosure of funding leaves questions about how much industry money or influence underpins its campaigns.

    • Transparency and Legal Status: It is not obvious to the public who exactly leads or funds the coalition. Media and transparency advocates have noted that it isn’t registered as an incorporated entity, meaning it operates without the accountability mechanisms (financial disclosures, listed officers) of a typical lobby group. This quasi-informal status can be seen as a way to avoid scrutiny – a point of criticism given the coalition’s significant political advocacy. The Integrity Institute’s interest in documenting it underscores this transparency concern.

    • Clashes with Local Officials: The coalition’s aggressive stance on Auckland Council’s handling of housing policy has provoked strong reactions. For example, Auckland councillor Christine Fletcher, a defender of “character” zoning, angrily likened central government’s pro-density law (which the coalition championed) to “the rape of Auckland”. While that outrageous comment was not directed at the coalition per se, it exemplified the charged environment in which the coalition operates. Likewise, some resident associations opposing intensification view the coalition as adversaries; they criticize coalition spokespeople in public meetings and submissions (in one community meeting, residents derided pro-density advocates – implicitly including coalition supporters – for wanting to “change” their suburb).

    • Internal Dilemmas: There is no public evidence of infighting, but maintaining unity among such diverse members can be challenging. For instance, the coalition brought together groups with traditionally different ideologies (e.g. a free-market think tank and a trade union). Any misalignment in goals could be controversial internally. One potential tension: some community-oriented members might be uneasy partnering with property developers, and vice versa. However, any such disagreements have been kept behind closed doors, with the coalition presenting a united public front so far.

    • Public Backlash: To the extent controversies exist, they are mostly reflective of the broader intensification debate rather than scandals of the coalition itself. The coalition is effectively on one side of a polarising housing argument. It has been lambasted by “NIMBY” groups who accuse it of wanting to “destroy” suburb character and profit from high-density development. Online, anonymous critics sometimes heap scorn on coalition posts (for example, labeling pro-housing submissions as attempts to enrich developers). The coalition counters that opposition with data and moral arguments, but the polarized discourse itself is noteworthy.

28. Other information of note: The Coalition for More Homes is notable for its cross-partisan, cross-sector approach in New Zealand politics. It unites unlikely allies – from market liberals to socialists – under the shared goal of abundant housing. This has made it an influential voice in the housing policy arena, cited by media as a “powerful new lobby group” as early as its 2016 launch. Despite its influence, the coalition operates without formal structure: it has no listed directors, no offices, and communicates via a Gmail address. This informal setup, while enabling flexibility, means the coalition’s accountability is limited. It relies on the credibility of its member organisations when speaking publicly. Indeed, coalition spokespeople are often concurrently leaders or experts in those member bodies (e.g. spokesperson Scott Caldwell is known through the Greater Auckland urban issues blog ). The coalition’s strategy blends classic grassroots activism with insider policy savvy: it mobilises public submissions, engages experts for evidence, and maintains media pressure on officials. Notably, it has no formal funding appeals, staff payroll, or membership fees apparent – suggesting that member organisations absorb the costs of its campaigns. The coalition’s resurgence in 2021–2022, after years of dormancy, coincided with a historic political moment (the rare Labour-National pact on housing intensification). Observers have pointed out that this “grand coalition” of political parties was paralleled by the Coalition for More Homes providing supportive political cover from civil society. Finally, the coalition’s influence may extend beyond Auckland: its branding remains “More Homes NZ” and it has engaged in Wellington and potentially other cities’ housing debates, hinting at an evolving national role.

29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: No. (There is no record of the Coalition for More Homes receiving the Covid-19 Wage Subsidy. It likely had no employees on payroll to qualify. None of the government’s published wage subsidy recipient lists include this coalition’s name, and given its volunteer-driven nature, it did not seek such support.).

Sources:

[1] Anne Gibson, Coalition rises to support Unitary Plan, NZ Herald, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/coalition-rises-to-support-unitary-plan/VKBOSKVEGYF3MB46ZDBB23DYAI/

[2] Who We Are – The Coalition for More Homes, Coalition for More Homes website, https://www.morehomes.nz/about

[3] The Coalition For More Homes (members list), Coalition for More Homes website, https://www.morehomes.nz/about

[4] Coalition for More Homes Launches (Press Release), Scoop News, https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1608/S00001/coalition-for-more-homes-launches.htm

[5] Scoop News, Coalition For More Homes Welcomes Housing Minister’s Commitment To More Homes, Scoop (Press Release, 4 July 2024), https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2407/S00171.htm

[6] Scoop News, Auckland Council Seeks To Extend The Housing Crisis, Delaying Supply Of More Homes, Scoop (Press Release, 27 Feb 2024), https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2402/S00478.htm

[7] Auckland Council May plan change submission (FYI OIA requests by Coalition for More Homes), FYI.org.nz (29 Aug 2022), https://fyi.org.nz/request/20388-auckland-council-may-plan-change-submission

[8] LinkedIn post by Coalition for More Homes NZ (showing LinkedIn page details), LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/more-homes-nz_there-has-been-a-lot-of-coverage-over-the-activity-7307912773928136704-DTKg

[9] Contact Us – Coalition for More Homes, Coalition for More Homes website, https://www.morehomes.nz/contact

[10] Twitter (X) profile of Coalition For More Homes (@morehomesnz), Twitter, https://x.com/morehomesnz (account info showing July 2016 join date and location)

[11] Metro Magazine, The Character Protection Racket, Metro (Auckland), https://www.metromag.co.nz/city-life/city-life-urban-design/the-character-protection-racket

[12] Metro Magazine, The Character Protection Racket (findings with Scott Caldwell quotes), Metro, https://www.metromag.co.nz/…/the-character-protection-racket (Caldwell quotes on SCAs)

[13] Metro Magazine, The Character Protection Racket, Metro – Scott Caldwell quoted on council’s approach (gerrymandering etc.), https://www.metromag.co.nz/…/the-character-protection-racket

[14] Bryce Edwards (comp.), Maxim Institute (Integrity Institute profile), Democracy Project Substack, https://democracyproject.substack.com/p/maxim-institute (example showing “Company Hub NZ URL: no listing… Companies Office URL: no listing”)

[15] Dileepa Fonseka, Our ‘grown-up’ moment on housing is over, BusinessDesk, 29 May 2023 (excerpt featuring Scott Caldwell and TV crew anecdote), https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/policy/our-grown-up-moment-on-housing-is-over

[16] Generation Zero urges National Party to reverse backdown on MDRS (Joint Press Release with Coalition for More Homes et al., May 2023), Generation Zero website, https://www.generationzero.org/mdrs_05_2023

[17] Generation Zero press release (find: Primary contact: Scott Caldwell, Coalition for More Homes), Generation Zero, https://www.generationzero.org/mdrs_05_2023

[18] Generation Zero press release (contact info for Coalition for More Homes, Scott Caldwell), Generation Zero, https://www.generationzero.org/mdrs_05_2023

[19] MBIE (Ministerial Services) acknowledgment letter (NZBN reference) – OIA request, FYI.org.nz, https://fyi.org.nz/request/20388… (MBIE’s NZBN listed)

[20] FYI OIA request thread (Coalition for More Homes making requests), FYI.org.nz, https://fyi.org.nz/request/20388… (see index of requests by Coalition for More Homes)

[21] FYI request index (Coalition for More Homes to Kāinga Ora, Productivity Commission, etc.), FYI.org.nz, https://fyi.org.nz/request/20388…

[22] FYI request index detail (Coalition for More Homes OIA requests, Aug 2022), FYI.org.nz, https://fyi.org.nz/request/20388…

[23] Greater Auckland blog, The Coalition for More Homes, Greater Auckland (campaign page, 2016, referencing coalition’s contact info), https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/our-campaigns/the-coalition-for-more-homes/

[24] Coalition for More Homes – Scoop InfoPage (list of press releases from 2016 to 2024), Scoop InfoPages, https://info.scoop.co.nz/Coalition_for_More_Homes

[25] NZ Herald, Heritage advocates fear RMA reforms threaten Auckland’s kauri villas, NZ Herald (15 Aug 2023), https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/heritage-advocates-fear-rma-reforms-threaten-aucklands-kauri-villas/VKSZYQIR4JEAPIQXLSNFCUJE4U/ (quotes: “strong backing from lobby groups like the Coalition for More Homes”).

[26] Auckland Council Unitary Plan Open Letter text – Scoop (Coalition for More Homes 2016 letter content), Scoop, https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1608/S00001… (excerpt of open letter text in NZ Herald piece).

[27] Jamie Simmonds, OIA Request to MBIE for submission on intensification plan (FYI request showing Coalition for More Homes activity), FYI, https://fyi.org.nz/request/20388… (Coalition for More Homes making OIA requests)

[28] Scoop News, Coalition for More Homes Launches (Press Release text), Scoop, https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1608/S00001… (detailed membership list and rationale).

[29] NZ Herald, Coalition rises to support Unitary Plan (Anne Gibson article premium excerpt), NZ Herald, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/coalition-rises-to-support-unitary-plan/VKBOSKVEGYF3MB46ZDBB23DYAI/ (quotes coalition as powerful new lobby group etc.).

[30] Scoop, Coalition for More Homes Launches (event details excerpt), Scoop, https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1608/S00001… (mentions launch event time/location).

[31] Auckland Council, Proposed Plan Change 78 – Summary of Submissions (excerpt showing campaigns: “Coalition for More Homes (87)” etc.), Auckland Council haveyoursay documents.

[32] Greater Auckland, NIMBYs go BANANAs over young singles in their area (Jan 2023), Greater Auckland, https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/2023/01/25/nimbys-go-bananas-over-young-singles-in-their-area/ (includes Oscar Sims quote).

[33] Greater Auckland (BANANAs article – find result for Oscar Sims), Greater Auckland.

[34] Greater Auckland (BANANAs article excerpt with Oscar Sims quote from Herald editorial), Greater Auckland.

[35] Bryce Edwards, Xero – Influence Register entry, Democracy Project (Integrity Institute register example, showing formatting of fields including CompanyHubNZ etc.), https://democracyproject.substack.com/p/xero (demonstrates style of footnotes, etc., used as template).

[36] Coalition for More Homes – Greater Auckland campaign page (archived), Greater Auckland.

[37] coalitionformorehomes.org.nz site (attempted access – robots.txt block), (indicative that site is defunct).

[38] CompanyHub NZ search reference and Maxim Institute example (footnote style), (as above).

[39] CompanyHubNZ site (generic info), (not directly relevant except confirming such site exists)

[40] Wellington City Council, Proposed District Plan Hearings – Section 42A Report (excerpt showing coalition submission #76.11 re: LGWM MRT routes), WCC, https://wellington.govt.nz/-/media/…/hearing-stream-1-section-42a-report-part-1.pdf.

[41] WCC s42A report (find coalition for more homes), as above.

[42] WCC s42A report excerpt (showing coalition submission request for applying NPS-UD to MRT routes), as above.

[43] Hutt City Council, Plan Change 56 – Submissions Volume (not opened due large file, but snippet indicated coalition’s MDRS standards referenced).

[44] Scoop, Auckland Council Seeks to Extend Housing Crisis… (press release 27 Feb 2024 excerpt), Scoop.

[45] Scoop find in Feb 2024 release (no direct “said” found due to images etc.), n/a.

[46] Scoop find (no results because maybe text was image overlay etc.), n/a.

[47] Scoop Feb 2024 release excerpt (with Caldwell quote calling out Council delay attempts), Scoop.

[48] Scoop July 2024 release (coalition welcomes Minister’s commitment) excerpt, Scoop.

[49] Scoop July 2024 find (Caldwell quote in press release), Scoop.

[50] Scoop July 2024 release detailed excerpt (Caldwell quotes about forcing councils, red tape, etc.), Scoop.

[51] Bing search result (NZ Herald coalition rising – which we got above as [52]), (just usage).

[52] NZ Herald, Coalition rises to support Unitary Plan (Anne Gibson; Premium content partial), NZ Herald.

[53] Find in NZ Herald premium (we have the needed from [54] presumably), not directly accessible beyond that excerpt.

[54] NZ Herald (Gibson) article extended excerpt (from what loaded), NZ Herald.

[55] Bing search (LinkedIn Coalition for More Homes 656 followers snippet), we used [8] instead.

[56] LinkedIn page (we accidentally opened Construction Advantage – irrelevant aside from showing how LinkedIn page info appears, so not cited).

[57] Facebook blocked page (just confirming URL morehomesnz).

[58] X.com (mobile) partial (just confirms twitter handle).

[59] Auckland Council Hearings – Expert evidence of Shane Martin for Coalition for More Homes (viewshaft E10), Auckland Council hearing docs.

[60] Instagram post about YIMBY astroturf (maybe US context), not directly used except mention astroturf narrative.

[61] Coalition for More Homes website, News page (showing submission guide, etc.), morehomes.nz.

[62] Search for democracyproject coalition reference (none direct).

[63] NZ Herald, Heritage advocates fear RMA reforms… (Bernard Orsman, 13 Aug 2023), NZ Herald.

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz