The government might do more to free up land for investors.

The idea is that governments free up land while agri-businesses bring expertise, technology and financial muscle.

Supporters say such a move will create better food security, curb conflict between herders and farmers, and free up land.

There's a growing concern within Auckland Council the Government intends to take direct action to free up land for new housing.

Also on the housing front, ministers revealed they want to be able to direct councils to free up land for development.

Auckland's Mayor has suggested a way to free up land for housing developments in the jampacked city - seizing it from land bankers.

The building industry says that while changes to the RMA will free up land, it is not a fix for Auckland's housing affordability problem.

I am confident that freeing up land around Sixfields will achieve that.

Freeing up land for housing closer to the city centre was one solution, he said.

But he said simply freeing up land won't fix the housing crisis for the most vulnerable.

The Canterbury Regional Council proposes freeing up land on the city outskirts for thousands of new homes.

Mr Patten said there was still too much pussy footing around, in terms of freeing up land for new houses.

He said Auckland City Council has demonstrated that freeing up land for housing developments can help address the house price problem.

The policy needed to be better targeted, and could instead focus on freeing up land for development and putting risk back on to developers.