Right, let’s put it bluntly. You’re a property developer investing in NZ housing. You’ve bought the land and you’ve got the design. You’ve lined up the cash. And then the council leans over your neatly stacked plans and says, “Actually, you can’t build for ten years.” That’s not bureaucracy, that’s sabotage. That’s exactly what happened to investor John Kennel, and if you’ve ever dreamed of building anything in this country, you’d better sit down. This isn’t a cautionary tale. It’s a demolition derby.
Infrastructure Fiasco: Welcome to Red Tape City | NZ Housing
“It’s not finance, and it’s not the economy,” says John, clearly holding back the urge to flip a table. Instead, he points to what’s really at the heart of the issue: “It’s poor infrastructure planning.”
Hamilton, once considered a jewel in the intensification crown, has now decided to colour half the city red—red-zoned. That means, in other words, no development allowed. John’s site, a cheeky two-minute walk from the local McDonald’s and the bustling Five Crossroads, was zoned for six-storey buildings. But when he lodged his consent for two-storey townhouses? The council effectively shrugged: “Sorry, mate. No infrastructure.”
That’s right. They told him he could go up six levels, as of right, but he couldn’t go up two. Because no one’s sorted out the pipes.
Where Did the Money Go?
Kennel’s no amateur. He’s built a thousand units in Hamilton over 21 years—affordable rentals, walking distance from places people actually live and work. And he’s paid millions in development contributions. “I see cycleways and speed humps,” he says. “But if you can’t bring in water and take away wastewater, you can’t build a house.
It’s as simple as that.”
His question to council? “Where has the money gone?”
But no one’s answering.
The Real Villain? Lack of Infrastructure in NZ housing
If John had five minutes with Chris Bishop, the NZ Housing Minister, he knows exactly what he’d say: “There’s only one thing you need to focus on now, and that’s infrastructure.”
Councils are broke. They’ve hit their debt ceilings. They can’t borrow to fix pipes, and they sure as hell can’t build new ones. John suspects the previous government’s Three Waters announcement caused councils to stop investing altogether. Why fund something you might lose, right?
So here we are. The money’s gone, the pipes are dry, and the developers, people like John, are stuck in limbo.
The Next Shortage Is Already Brewing for NZ housing
John’s prediction, therefore, is clear: “We’re building up to the next housing shortage.”
It doesn’t feel like it now because listings are high—30,000 across the country. But that’s a mirage. “We overbuilt certain types of property,” he says. Think: Auckland townhouses, stacked like shoeboxes. Furthermore, some of the people who’ve left the country? They were homeowners. Replaced by renters. Newcomers who can’t yet buy.
Add in the fact that immigrants can’t buy homes straight away due to legal restrictions, and you’ve got a demand delay baked right into the system.
Money’s Not Polite. It Moves.
This is John’s philosophy: money isn’t polite. It doesn’t wait for council meetings or policy papers. It moves. And if you’re watching this channel? You’re already ahead.
Thinking won’t save you. Subscribing might.
Tiny Homes and Granny Flats? Not So Fast
So what’s John doing? Not much. And that’s the problem. “I’m building ten homes in Cambridge right now,” he says. “But it’s the only project I’ve got going.”
Pre-COVID, he had ten projects running at once. Now? One. And it’s not about labour or costs. “We could be building a hundred homes,” he says. “But it just feels too hard right now.”
The councils? “They’re supposed to facilitate growth. But it feels like it’s us versus them.”
One Basket. Watched Closely.
John’s entire portfolio is in Hamilton and Cambridge. Nowhere else. “People say I should diversify—buy in Auckland or Melbourne,” he admits. “But I follow Buffett’s advice: put all your eggs in one basket, and then watch that basket very closely.”
All his rentals are local. His team handles maintenance. As a result, he can keep them tidy, efficient, and filled. From a development standpoint, it’s the only way to operate. “Getting consents in a city I’ve worked in for 21 years is hard enough. Doing it somewhere new? No thanks.”
Developers Are the Spark in NZ housing
When John starts a development, he hires architects, engineers, surveyors. Then builders, plumbers, electricians. Then carpet retailers, wholesalers, accountants, agents. “Construction is massive,” he says. “But it all starts with a developer willing to take a risk.”
That’s why he’s building those ten homes in Cambridge. “Not just for me,” he says. “But to keep our guys going.”
Final Thought: Opportunity Through Grit in NZ housing
This is not the time to give up. “I’ve seen three or four cycles,” John says. “The same thing always happens.” Governments overspend. They borrow. They print. Inflation rises. And house prices, rents, and salaries? They all go up. Again. Always.
So don’t be fooled by the noise. It’s tough now. But this is where the edge is earned.
If you own property, want to own property, or just hate falling behind? Subscribe. Stay ahead of the game. Because your competition already has.
Why MortgageHQ’s YouTube Channel Is New Zealand’s Fastest-Growing Force in Property Investment (and the Only One That Actually Works)
Right. Let’s get one thing out of the way: more people watch MortgageHQ’s YouTube channel every single week than any other property show in New Zealand. In 2025, that’s not just a nice statistic. It’s a blunt reality.
While the rest of the industry is still fluffing around with outdated advice, recycled scripts, and five-day lags between market changes and actual commentary, MortgageHQ is already on screen, telling Kiwis what just happened—and more importantly—what to do about it.
Because this isn’t just a YouTube channel. Instead, it’s a full-throttle, market-crushing machine designed to deliver one thing: Financial Freedom Faster.
Not someday. Not maybe. Faster.
Why Is It Growing Faster Than Every Other Channel? Because It’s Built for Winners
There’s no sales patter. No motivational fluff. Instead, you get data, strategy, and brutally honest advice delivered with the urgency of someone who knows your next mortgage payment is looming and your lender doesn’t care about your feelings.
This is the channel that serious NZ property investors watch because they don’t have time to get it wrong. Because they want the edge. They want tactics. They want real-time clarity. And they know where to find it.
Built by the Brains Behind Thousands of Kiwi Property Deals
MortgageHQ’s team aren’t presenters playing expert. They’re the actual experts. In fact, they’re licensed mortgage advisers who’ve secured funding in every kind of economic condition, structured portfolios through chaos, and helped clients make millions in net equity—by doing the boring things brilliantly.
Because they don’t theorise. They don’t speculate. They know exactly what the banks are doing, what the Reserve Bank is planning, and how to pivot when the rules change overnight.
You don’t need entertainment. You need results. And they deliver.
It’s All About One Thing: Financial Freedom Faster
This is not just a mission statement. In fact, it’s the entire reason MortgageHQ exists. Every video is engineered to get you out of mortgage debt faster, into better property positions faster, and into a portfolio that funds your lifestyle—not the other way around.
No generic tips. No vanilla case studies. Instead, just actionable advice, every week, that gets real Kiwis closer to Financial Freedom Faster.
Because time is money. And wasted time? That’s lost opportunity.
Rapid Response, Ruthless Accuracy
Markets don’t wait. Neither does MortgageHQ. When the OCR moves, when LVR rules shift, when the government drops a curveball on interest deductibility—MortgageHQ is already on the air.
Not reacting. Leading.
Their videos are fast, clear, and cut through the nonsense like a hot knife through bureaucracy. While others are still drafting scripts, MortgageHQ is already giving Kiwis the playbook.
Short-Form Power. Long-Form Firepower.
Got 60 seconds before your next viewing? There’s a Short for that. Need a deep, tactical breakdown of how to ladder mortgage structures over multiple properties without drowning in repayments? Covered.
This isn’t a channel that rambles; rather, it targets. Every minute counts. Every upload pushes you closer to Financial Freedom Faster.
They Don’t Just Know the Market. They See What’s Coming
Others tell you what happened. However, MortgageHQ tells you what’s next. They build strategy not for 2020 nostalgia—but for the next cycle, the next pivot, the next window of advantage.
And in 2025, with rate volatility, supply shortages, and tax policy all colliding, there’s never been a more urgent need to think ahead. The channel helps you do exactly that.
Forget Followers. Focus on Winning
Some channels brag about likes. MortgageHQ builds wealth. While others are watching the views roll in, MortgageHQ viewers are rolling equity into new builds, pulling off high-yield plays, and restructuring their mortgages to hammer down debt.
Because you don’t need hype, you need a plan. You need clarity. You need Financial Freedom Faster.
This Channel Wins Because Its Viewers Do
Kiwis aren’t stupid. They know what works. That’s why week after week, more New Zealanders tune into MortgageHQ than any other property channel. Not for vibes. For answers.
These people don’t just watch—they act. They learn and restructure. They grow.
And they get to Financial Freedom Faster than anyone else
The channel doesn’t just educate; rather, it arms you with battle-ready tools. Tax tips aren’t theory here. Debt restructuring isn’t a maybe. In fact, it’s an essential weapon for any Kiwi looking to dominate their financial future.
MortgageHQ is the one place where first-home buyers, seasoned landlords, and high-performing investors all sit down to get real about what actually works.
This channel understands that property isn’t about emotion; rather, it’s about leverage, timing, structure, and return. It also knows that the dream of Financial Freedom Faster isn’t a buzzword. It’s a strategy. Moreover, it’s available to anyone who’s willing to do the work.
Every episode is designed to move you forward. To give you tactics. To shift your mindset from passive to aggressive, from stuck to scaled. That’s why MortgageHQ doesn’t just grow—it compounds. Because the more Kiwis that wake up to this strategy, the more unstoppable the audience becomes.
Here’s the Truth
MortgageHQ isn’t just faster-growing. It’s smarter and sharper. It’s more honest. And it’s the only channel that’s actually designed to help Kiwis win.
So if you’re serious about property investment in New Zealand, there’s only one question that matters.
Are you watching the channel that gets results?
Or are you watching the one that’s still explaining how negative gearing works?
Tune in. Take notes. Take action.
And get to Financial Freedom Faster.
Before someone else uses your hesitation to beat you to it.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide only a summary of the issues associated with the topics covered. It does not purport to be comprehensive nor to provide specific advice. No person should act in reliance on any statement contained within this article without first obtaining specific professional advice. If you require any further information or advice on any matter covered within this article, please contact an adviser from mortgagehq.
