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The Government will introduce legislation to Parliament to give community housing providers and donors certainty that assisting low-income families into home ownership will be exempt from income tax.

“The Government is committed to supporting as many kiwi families as possible to achieve the goal of owning their own home. This tax change is about supporting organisations like Habitat for Humanity who help low-income families buy a house through rent-to-buy or similar home ownership products,” Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

A 1950s, four-unit Housing New Zealand building in Upper Hutt is this week being tested to destruction to help inform decisions on the repair and replacement of earthquake-prone buildings.

“This is the first time this destructive earthquake testing has been carried out on a two-storey building in New Zealand,” Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

Environment Minister Amy Adams and Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith have announced that the New Zealand Transport Agency’s proposal for a new section of highway between Pūhoi and Warkworth will be directed to an independent Board of Inquiry.

The application relates to the construction, operation and maintenance of the Pūhoi to Warkworth section of the Ara Tūhono-Pūhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance.

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today turned the sod to mark the beginning of construction for the Pomare mixed housing redevelopment in Lower Hutt.

“Pomare epitomises the old intensive state housing model we are moving away from. The Government is creating more mixed communities of state, social and low-cost housing for first home buyers and growing families,” Dr Smith says.

“This sod turning is a significant event for the community and an important milestone in the history of the redevelopment.

Claims the Government has not heeded advice to expand the protection for Maui’s dolphin are false and overlook the Government’s proposed extension announced in September, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

The Government is proposing to ban the removal of shark fins and the dumping of the shark carcass at sea, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy and Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today.

The Ministers made the announcement at the Island Bay Marine Education Centre in Wellington, while releasing the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks for public consultation.

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today launched a nationwide programme which will see 13,000 driveways at state houses made safer for children.

“New Zealand has one of the highest rates of child driveway safety accidents in the world. It is estimated that a child is hospitalised every two weeks and five children die a year as a result of being run-over in driveways. These tragic accidents are over-represented at Housing New Zealand properties, which is why we are launching this major driveway safety programme to help keep kids safe,” Dr Smith says.

A bill to grow the community social housing sector and focus the Government’s housing support on high needs tenants passed its second reading in Parliament today 63 votes to 56.

“The Social Housing Reform Bill will help kick-start growth in the community social housing sector by giving approved providers access to the income- related rent subsidy for new tenants. This is a major shift as up until now these significant rent subsidies have only been available to Housing New Zealand tenants,” Dr Smith says.

The Government is proposing increased transparency, simplified compliance, changes to anti-dumping duties and tariff concessions to bring down the cost of home building materials, Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Commerce Minister Craig Foss announced today.

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today announced a further $3.5 million of funding for community social housing provider Accessible Properties to build 20 more homes in Wellington, Tauranga and Hamilton.

Dr Smith made the announcement while opening Accessible Properties latest development in Wainuiomata. The $1.2 million development has previously received $480,000 of funding from the Government’s $139 million Social Housing Fund.

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith today opened the new track to one of New Zealand's highest waterfalls as part of commemorations to mark 125 years of the Milford Track in the Fiordland National Park.

"This 1.4 kilometres of new track through some of the most spectacular and rugged terrain in New Zealand opens up access to the awe-inspiring Sutherland Falls. The cascading 580-metre waterfall is one of New Zealand's natural wonders and is an integral part of the Milford Great Walk experience," Dr Smith says.

A partnership between DOC, the Queenstown Lakes District Council, LINZ and the local community aims to clear thousands of hectares of wilding pines in the Wakatipu Basin over the next five years, Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith today inspected the site of the proposed Fiordland monorail, met with the applicants, and released official advice recommending he approve the project subject to extensive conditions.

“This ambitious $200 million project involves the building of the world’s longest monorail to enhance the experience of the hundreds of thousands of visitors travelling between Queenstown and Milford Sound,” Dr Smith says.

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today announced $16.7 million of Government funding for 87 new community social houses in Auckland.

“Auckland’s housing problems require that we grow the stock of private and state housing, as well as the community social housing sector. These additional community-developed homes are aimed at lower income families for both rental and assisted home ownership,” Dr Smith says.

Three new social housing developments in Christchurch totalling 51 homes and an investment of $17.3 million were announced today by Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith.

“We have a real housing challenge in Christchurch with the loss of so many homes to the earthquakes and the increased demand from the expanded workforce to support the rebuild. This shortage is driving up house prices and rents. These new developments are about ensuring an increased supply of lower cost homes for both rental and assisted home ownership,” Dr Smith says.

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith says opposition parties owe him an apology for alleging he interfered in DOC’s decision-making over its submission on the Tukituki catchment project after Parliament’s Speaker today dismissed Labour’s breach of privileges complaint.

“The Speaker’s dismissal of Labour’s complaint confirms that the accusations of political interference were unfounded and untrue. Labour and the Greens should apologise because they got it wrong,” Dr Smith says.

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith today announced the establishment of a community-led forum to consider marine protection for the Otago coastline.

“New Zealand has a network of 34 marine reserves covering an area of 1.28 million hectares. However, Otago stands out as being the only region without a marine protected area,” Dr Smith says.

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith has dismissed a privileges compliant by Labour Leader David Cunliffe, describing it as a joke and a political stunt.

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith is requiring the Department of Conservation to review the standards and back-up containment of all fuel tanks in National Parks.

“Our National Parks are our most valued natural environments and I expect the highest standards for storing fuel in these areas. The spill at Turoa ski field was unacceptable and we need to do everything possible to prevent a re-occurrence anywhere else on public conservation land,” Dr Smith says.

Conservation Minister Dr Nick Smith today officially opened the new Anchorage Hut in the Abel Tasman National Park.

“The Abel Tasman, with its golden beaches and lush bush, is one of the country’s busiest Great Walks. This new 34-bunk hut will better cater for demand at the favoured stopover site of Anchorage,” Dr Smith says.

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Auckland Mayor Len Brown today announced the first batch of Special Housing Areas that will progressively bring to market 6,000 new homes across the city under the Auckland Housing Accord.

“Land supply is the most critical issue we must address to improve housing supply and affordability in Auckland. This first batch of Special Housing Areas will bring 6,000 sections onto the market and is a significant step towards the Auckland Housing Accord’s target of consenting for 39,000 new homes over three years,” Dr Smith says.

Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today officially re-opened a block of units in Lower Hutt which have had significant earthquake strengthening work done as part of Housing New Zealand’s nationwide programme around earthquake-prone buildings.

New Zealand’s largest community housing development involving 282 social and affordable homes on surplus Government land at Weymouth in South Auckland was announced today by Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Auckland Mayor Len Brown.

“This exciting development involves both the Government’s social and affordable housing reforms and will help 113 families into their first home. It will also expand the provision of community and social housing by 169 units,” Dr Smith says.

A new Housing New Zealand initiative called FirstHome to help families buy their own home was announced today in Blenheim by Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith.

“FirstHome will help modest income earners in provincial New Zealand buy their first home by gifting them a 10 per cent deposit and giving them priority to purchase surplus vacant state houses no longer needed by Housing New Zealand,” Dr Smith says.