The Resource Management Act is being blamed for a Northland housing trust being unable to open a new development this weekend.

He Korowai Trust wanted to launch the project to coincide with Waitangi Day.

Tenants on the scheme will eventually be able to buy their homes outright.

But chief executive Ricky Houghton says the opening has been pushed back by two months, because of council requirements.

"Affordable housing would be a lot more affordable if there was less red tape," he says.

"It's bureaucracy and red tape and compliance costs, some of the many things that make affordable housing unaffordable."