Displaying 1 - 24 of 30 results.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley says social housing providers wanting access to the Government’s $40 million Social Housing Fund can now apply.

The access criteria for four new sub-funds, put in place to support the development of more social and affordable housing, are being released today.

The four funds are:
Growth fund – Pūtea Whakatipu
Māori fund – Pūtea Māori
Niche fund – Pūtea Kaupapa Motuhake
Rural fund – Pūtea Taiwhenua

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has today opened four new four-bedroom townhouses built by the Wellington Housing Trust to provide affordable housing in Newtown, Wellington.

The Trust received Housing Innovation Funding (HIF) of $1 million to help with the cost of the build which cost of 1.79 million

"I am always delighted to see Government funding being used to grow social and affordable housing by a provider like the Wellington Housing Trust," says Minister Heatley.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has welcomed Housing New Zealand’s (HNZ) announcement of a major upgrade and increase of its state housing property in urban Auckland.

Nearly half (14,500) of the 30,600 state homes in the city will receive upgrades and up to 1400 new state homes will also be added to the HNZ Auckland property portfolio over the next five years, bringing the number of state homes there to around 32,000.

“This is a significant portfolio upgrade by HNZ that will see communities across Auckland given a real lift,” says Mr Heatley.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Hello everyone.  Thank you so much for having me along again this year.

I note that the theme for this year’s event here in picturesque Queenstown is “Adventures in property.” 

Managing the economy has been a bit of an adventure for the Government, a worldwide recession, natural disasters and the tragedy at Pike River have provided unprecedented challenges for  the Government. There have been financial ups and downs in all areas of the economy, which have had their impact on property as you are all too aware.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has welcomed the appointment of interim Social Housing Unit (SHU) Director, Michael Pead.

"The establishment of the SHU and Michael’s appointment is an important step towards implementing Government’s aim of achieving a significant increase in the volume of social, niche and affordable housing delivered by the third sector," says Mr Heatley.

Earlier this year we announced that $40 million had been set aside to help the third sector grow the volume of social housing.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Housing Minister Phil Heatley says 397 state houses were freed up for those in genuine need in the last three years after investigations found the former tenants had obtained a state house or taxpayer subsidised rent by lying about their circumstances.

Of that number, 241 tenancies were ended in the last 12 months.

Housing New Zealand (HNZ) has also established $6.6 million in Crown debts for overpaid rent subsidies over the last 12 months – bringing the total over the last three years to nearly $13.7 million.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has announced the latest round of Housing Innovation Fund (HIF) application successes.

"Funding for the four projects based in Christchurch and Auckland will result in 20 new houses for New Zealanders on low to moderate incomes, or with special housing needs," says Mr Heatley.

"The three projects will combine Government funding of $2.6 million with private funding of $5.5 million to provide at least an additional 20 houses for the social housing sector.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Whaimutu Dewes has been appointed to the Housing New Zealand (HNZ) Board for a period of three years, says Housing Minister Phil Heatley.

"I am delighted that Whai Dewes has accepted a position on the Board," says Mr Heatley.

"HNZ is currently going through a period of significant change as it works to implement its Social Housing Reform Programme, which will see it refocus its efforts on its core business of providing social housing to those most in need, for the duration of that need.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

When I asked Helen Gatonyi who I should acknowledge today she specifically asked that I acknowledge each and every one of you.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Changes to the way Housing New Zealand delivers state housing will make the system fairer for everyone, says Housing Minister Phil Heatley.

From 1 July, Housing New Zealand will start using an improved system to decide who gets a state house. The new system will mean that only those in the greatest need (A and B priority applicants) will be eligible for state housing, and will be placed on Housing New Zealand’s waiting list.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Housing Minister Phil Heatley describes the updated Unit Titles Act that comes into force today, as a ‘game changer’.

"When the Act was originally drafted in 1972 the market was nowhere near as complex as it is now," says Mr Heatley.

"The updated Unit Titles Act, modernises legislation that is over 30 years old. The former Act was considered to be outdated and no longer fit for purpose. The new Act will bring unit title developments into line with today’s property market," he said.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Funding for projects in Wellington, Queenstown, Christchurch and Auckland will deliver 34 much-needed homes for people on low incomes, says Housing Minister Phil Heatley.

The five successful applicants for Housing Innovation Funding (HIF) include Christchurch-based Habitat for Humanity, which will build three four-bedroom properties in Kaiapoi for affordable home ownership for low income families through its rent to buy scheme.

The project which will cost $735,000 will receive $354,000 in HIF funding.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

An appropriation of $40 million dollars for 2011/12 will be used to grow the volume of social, affordable and niche housing provided by the third sector, says Housing Minister Phil Heatley.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

A new Board is set to take the Government and Auckland Council’s aspirations to transform Tamaki forward.

Chaired by Dr Lee Mathias the Interim Tamaki Transformation Board (ITTB) will move the Tamaki Transformation Programme, a 15 to 20 year project aimed at redeveloping the Tamaki area, to its next phase.

The Board’s brief is to explore a recommended structure, mandate and legal form for a new organisation to advise Ministers and the new Auckland Council.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

 

A new Board is set to take the Government and Auckland Council’s aspirations to transform Tamaki forward.

Chaired by Dr Lee Mathias the Interim Tamaki Transformation Board (ITTB) will move the Tamaki Transformation Programme, a 15 to 20 year project aimed at redeveloping the Tamaki area, to its next phase. 

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Increasing the pool of affordable and social housing is a key priority for the Government, Housing Minister Phil Heatley says.

A contingency fund of up to $45 million for 2011/12 has been set aside so the Government can respond to recommendations of the Housing Shareholders’ Advisory Group. This will be partly offset by an increase in the dividend to the Crown from Housing New Zealand Corporation of $21 million for 2009/10.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing
  • Budget 2011

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has announced the latest round of Housing Innovation Fund (HIF) application successes.

Funding for the projects based in Hamilton, Flaxmere and Hastings will result in 12 new properties for New Zealanders on low to moderate incomes, or with special housing needs says Mr Heatley.

Successful applications include one made under the Māori Demonstration Partnership (MDP), which will result in a house with 11 bedrooms to be used as affordable rentals for families and kaumatua.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Housing Minister Phil Heatley says Housing New Zealand staff and contractors have inspected all state homes damaged as a result of the earthquakes in Canterbury and a repair programme is well underway.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing
  • Earthquake Recovery

The Department of Building and Housing (DBH) has today announced the six kiwi-based companies chosen as providers of temporary accommodation in Christchurch.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley congratulated the consortium of Hawkins/Spanbild/Fulton Hogan; Jennian Homes; and New Zealand Transportable Units who will provide the first 300 temporary accommodation units; and Smith Crane; Hawkins Falcon; and Tranzasia who will make up the panel of preferred suppliers.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

The Housing Corporation Amendment Bill provides the legislative framework needed to transfer the policy advice function currently provided by Housing New Zealand to the Department of Building and Housing(DBH).

Housing Minister Phil Heatley says the changes provide the first legislative building block for the implementation of the recommendations of the Housing Shareholders Advisory Group (HSAG).

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

A provider of housing for low income families based in Nelson is set to benefit from the Government’s Housing Innovation Fund (HIF).

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has announced Habitat for Humanity will receive $240,000 from HIF ($168k as a term loan and a $72K grant) which it will supplement with $300,000 of its own money and resources to build two four-bedroom homes for families on low incomes.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has today announced that a further three projects are to get Housing Innovation Fund (HIF) funding. This funding will see 14 new homes built for New Zealanders on low to moderate incomes, or with special housing needs.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Good morning. Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.  It's a pleasure to address your annual conference and to update you on the Government's social housing reform programme.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing

Housing New Zealand (HNZ) has inspected all of its homes in the areas of Christchurch most affected by the Christchurch earthquake, says Housing Minister Phil Heatley.

HNZ has over 50 staff on the ground in Christchurch working in communities, checking on tenants and assessing the safety of homes. It has completed checks on more than 4500 homes including 2,600 in the eastern suburbs, and other areas badly affected by February’s earthquake.

  • Phil Heatley
  • Housing
  • Earthquake Recovery