Housing New Zealand

NZ Government provides over 8,000 public housing places

Eliza Sayon Aug 5, 2021

2 min read

New Zealand’s public housing programme runs full steam ahead as over 8,000 warm, dry new homes have been provided to the citizens by the Government.

“Of the 74,337 households now being supported in public housing places, about 6,503 are living in brand new public homes built since November 2017 under this Government,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

“We believe every New Zealander deserves to live in a warm, dry home and that the state has a role in helping make that happen. We have committed to adding over 18,000 public and transitional housing places by 2024 and this is well on track.”

Housing Minister Megan Woods said that the current Government has rebuilt the public sector’s ability to plan and build new housing. She also states that the Government has more than tripled the amount of funding for Community Housing Providers (CHPs) to deliver more housing.

“I have set an expectation for both Kāinga Ora and the CHP sector that as many of the public housing places as possible, should be new builds,” Minister Woods said.

“While this isn’t always possible if they need to provide urgent housing, we have made great strides in adding new stock; about 87% of Kāinga Ora’s additional housing places (public and supported) delivered in the last financial year were new builds, from a low under National of just 24% in 2010/11.”

Construction activity in the housing sector has grown exponentially in the last few years, with new home consents reaching an all-time high of 44,299.

The New Zealand Government’s public housing programme provides rent subsidies and places to live, as well as enabling more homes to be built with infrastructure investment. The programme also intensifies the construction of new homes after demolishing old houses that are no longer fit for purpose.

“Building new housing not only means people have warm, healthy, new homes, but the construction sector is also supported, including through workforce development; apprenticeships in the building and construction sector have nearly doubled since 2017 to 23,000 apprenticeships,” Megan Woods said.

“Our housing programme is helping New Zealanders and our recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19.”

SOURCE: BEEHIVE.GOVT.NZ MEDIA RELEASE

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.