YIMBY Country

Michael Andersen
  • 5.0 (1)
  • History
  • Updated Weekly

In 2021, the nation of New Zealand announced the YIMBY rapture. In the country's five largest cities, you would be allowed to build up to eight-story buildings anywhere within a 10-minute walk of mass transit lines. You couldn't be required to build any particular number of parking spaces. And now, you would be able to build up to three three-story townhomes on any residential lot in those large cities. Five years after news of this seismic event lapped up on the shores of my home in Oregon, I wanted to know: What happened next? What happens after the rapture? YIMBY COUNTRY is an independent, one-shot podcast miniseries by Michael Andersen about what happens after a country decides to re-legalize housing. It's told in a series of 30-40 minute interviews with various New Zealanders involved in the aftermath of the world's most successful upzoning campaign.

Episodes

  1. The Theorist

    Jun 17

    The Theorist

    Somewhere along the journey from inspiration to legislation, a good idea needs to be carried along by people like Chris Parker. Parker's work is to map the big abstract facts of his field, economics, across the rocky landscape of politics. First at the Auckland Council and then for New Zealand's central government, Parker was a key figure in moving his country to the leading edge of housing policy. We talked about why economics seems to be on so many New Zealanders' minds, why housing developers should have to pay for their own pipes, and what Americans should remember to be proud of.

    27 min
  2. The Architect

    Jun 9

    The Architect

    New Zealand's former minister for housing and resource management is a very specific and important sort of legislator: the kind whose power and influence revolve around the fact that he's a bit of a nerd. During the 2010s, MP Phil Twyford used any means necessary to build a fresh understanding of the housing crisis that was tearing through the lives of his constituents. His conclusions spread to both his political friends and foes, leading his country to do something none ever had - even as he was driven from his ministry and his party from power. We spoke about how that all went down, the oddly durable new politics it unlocked, and the dilemma of getting credit for big ideas. Discussed in the show: "Up-Zoning New Zealand: The localisation of a globally mobile policy idea" by Eleanor West the "leaky homes crisis" of poorly built homes in New Zealand from 1988-2004 KiwiBuild, the NZ Labour Party's failed attempt to build 100,000 publicly subsidized homes by 2028

    45 min
  3. YIMBY Country - Trailer

    Jun 1

    YIMBY Country - Trailer

    After seven years as a professional YIMBY, I wanted to know: What happens after you win? So I decided to go to the other side of the world and ask.

    5 min

Trailer

About

In 2021, the nation of New Zealand announced the YIMBY rapture. In the country's five largest cities, you would be allowed to build up to eight-story buildings anywhere within a 10-minute walk of mass transit lines. You couldn't be required to build any particular number of parking spaces. And now, you would be able to build up to three three-story townhomes on any residential lot in those large cities. Five years after news of this seismic event lapped up on the shores of my home in Oregon, I wanted to know: What happened next? What happens after the rapture? YIMBY COUNTRY is an independent, one-shot podcast miniseries by Michael Andersen about what happens after a country decides to re-legalize housing. It's told in a series of 30-40 minute interviews with various New Zealanders involved in the aftermath of the world's most successful upzoning campaign.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Andersen
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Michael Andersen 2026
  • Show Website
    YIMBY Country

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