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YIMBY Country · Yesterday · 58 min

The Evaluator

OK, let's recap. But first, I wanted some help. Eleanor West is an urban policy analyst who wrote a 35-page master's thesis and also an essay (with Marko Garlick) in Works in Progress magazine summarizing the intellectual history and procedural execution of New Zealand's remarkable zoning reforms since 2016. Her appearances on the UCLA Housing Voice and Good on Paper podcasts inspired my time in New Zealand and, eventually, this show. So I was honored that Eleanor was up to join me for the final episode of this miniseries, in which I offer for her consideration (and yours) a series of conclusions I came to based on my time in her home country and my conversations for this show. She agrees with most, has different angles on a few, and adds the flesh of experience to all of them. Thanks to everyone who's been part of making YIMBY Country possible, first of all the guests for their time. I hope you've enjoyed listening to it; that you learned something you didn't know about New Zealand; and that it might move you to do something to make your own corner of the world a little better. If you'd like to follow my other work, I go by @andersem on Bluesky, X, and LinkedIn. It's possible that someday, there might be a second season, but not for a long time. However, this show will stay on the internet for the forseeable future. If you've enjoyed it, please share it, rate it, and tell your friends.

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OK, let's recap. But first, I wanted some help.

Eleanor West is an urban policy analyst who wrote a 35-page master's thesis and also an essay (with Marko Garlick) in Works in Progress magazine summarizing the intellectual history and procedural execution of New Zealand's remarkable zoning reforms since 2016. Her appearances on the UCLA Housing Voice and Good on Paper podcasts inspired my time in New Zealand and, eventually, this show.

So I was honored that Eleanor was up to join me for the final episode of this miniseries, in which I offer for her consideration (and yours) a series of conclusions I came to based on my time in her home country and my conversations for this show. She agrees with most, has different angles on a few, and adds the flesh of experience to all of them.

Thanks to everyone who's been part of making YIMBY Country possible, first of all the guests for their time. I hope you've enjoyed listening to it; that you learned something you didn't know about New Zealand; and that it might move you to do something to make your own corner of the world a little better.

If you'd like to follow my other work, I go by @andersem on Bluesky, X, and LinkedIn.

It's possible that someday, there might be a second season, but not for a long time. However, this show will stay on the internet for the forseeable future. If you've enjoyed it, please share it, rate it, and tell your friends.

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