Housing Advisory Group members named

Housing Minister Phil Heatley and Finance Minister Bill English have today announced the line-up of the government's seven-member Housing Shareholders' Advisory Group.

Company director and global business consultancy senior partner Alan Jackson will chair the group.

Other members include investment banker Andrew Body, property developer Martin Udale, Salvation Army director Major Campbell Roberts, Auckland City Mission head Diane Robertson, New Zealand Housing Foundation executive director Brian Donnelly and Maori development consultant Paul White.

"A review of this nature is long overdue," Mr English said.

"The government has more than $14 billion invested in social housing; much of it is in a poor state of repair and in the wrong places to meet demand.

"The group will look at how this significant asset can be better utilised."

Mr Heatley noted a huge growth in demand for one and two bedroom houses for older people, and four or more bedroom houses for large families.

"Yet we have relatively few houses to meet that demand - instead we have a surplus of three bedroom houses across the country that suit neither demographic."

Today's announcement comes less than a week after the Salvation Army's annual State of the Nation report highlighted a lack of adequate housing, particularly in Auckland.

"The advisory group will make recommendations on the best and fairest way of providing state housing services to those most in need, in the highest priority areas, for as long as they need it," Mr Heatley said.

"As the Prime Minister said in his Statement to Parliament, we have to do a better job of matching state housing support with those people in the greatest need of assistance."

The group will report on the current and likely future demand for subsidised housing, and make recommendations on the future role of Housing New Zealand Corporation in delivering assistance.

They will start work immediately and report to government by 30 April 2010.  For the group's terms of reference visit: www.dbh.govt.nz/news-terms-of-reference-hsag

Housing Shareholders' Advisory Group biographies

• Alan Jackson (chair) is senior vice president in the Sydney office of the Boston Consulting Group. He is also a director of Fletcher Building and a trustee of The Icehouse business growth centre in Auckland. Mr Jackson will contribute experience in change management with expertise in resources, diversified industrials, building products and construction sectors.

• Major Campbell Roberts is the director of the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit of the Salvation Army. He is also a trustee of the New Zealand Housing Foundation, a director of the Centre for Housing Research Aotearoa New Zealand and the Auckland Housing Trust. Major Roberts is a media spokesperson, writer and speaker who will contribute on issues of poverty and social housing.

• Andrew Body is a director of Crown Fibre Holdings. He has 19 years experience as an investment banker, focussing on mergers and acquisitions. Mr Body will contribute experience in business and network industries.

• Martin Udale is an independent consultant with more than 30 years experience in the New Zealand, UK and Australian property markets, including developing some of the first office parks in Sydney and Brisbane. He was most recently the chief executive of McConnell Property, and has also been director of corporate advisory with CRI, an Australian property development and services group, specialising in partnering with asset owners to create value from underused assets.

• Diane Robertson is head of the Auckland City Mission and is the first non-clergy female City Missioner. She previously had roles on the Committee for Auckland, the Auckland University Community Advisory Board, Springboard Trust, Robin Hood Foundation, Child Poverty Action Group and the New Zealand Institute. Ms Robertson will contribute experience on social and emergency housing issues.

• Brian Donnelly is executive director of the New Zealand Housing Foundation. He is also a director of the Centre for Housing Research Aotearoa New Zealand (CHRANZ), a trustee of the Queenstown Lakes District Community Housing Trust, a member of the Social Entrepreneur Fellowship and chair of the Wilson Home Trust. He will contribute experience in social housing issues, including operating and managing a social housing organisation.

• Paul White is the Principal of Torea Tai Consultants, specialising in consultancy on Maori development, housing and strategic planning. He is also a Member of the State Housing Appeal Authority, the chair of Te Waka Pupuri Putea (an iwi asset holding company) and a council member of FITEC, the forestry industry training organisation. Mr White has previously been chief executive of Ngai Tahu Development Corporation and a member of the Housing New Zealand Board. He will contribute experience in the operation and management of Housing New Zealand, strategic planning and social housing issues.