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Housing New Zealand has met its target of completing repairs to 212 earthquake-damaged houses in Christchurch by the end of October. 

“This is a huge achievement in just six months and I congratulate the corporation. They have done a fantastic job,” Housing Minister Phil Heatley said today.

“Many of these houses were severely damaged. It’s been a great effort by the corporation and its contractors and sub-contractors – the builders, plumbers, painters, gardeners, roofers and electricians.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley says the $34.4 million upgrade to Wellington’s Central Park Apartments is a great example of good quality social housing.            

Mr Heatley and Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown reopened the complex this afternoon.

“This complex is now a modern, attractive place to live,” Mr Heatley said.

“Inside, there is new insulation, double glazing, redecorating, better ventilation and heating. The flats are warm and comfortable.”

Housing Minister Phil Heatley says the Government is already in the process of implementing key components of the Productivity Commission’s advice to address affordable housing, and has plans for more action.

Housing New Zealand’s new offices in central Christchurch have been officially opened by Housing Minister Phil Heatley.

“This is quite a milestone in the rebuild of Christchurch,” Mr Heatley said.

“It’s important the Corporation’s earthquake recovery team is located in the central city. It’s actually 12 years since the Corporation had a presence in the central city, and its return is a key part of the city’s revitalisation.

It’s great to see Housing New Zealand here in the inner city. Congratulations to everyone for making it happen.  There are signs of progress all around us here and that's very encouraging.

But today I’d like to talk more about the people who live here – in Christchurch and further afield, and what Housing New Zealand is doing to revitalise and rebuild houses in Canterbury.

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to your conference.  It’s a great pleasure to be able to speak to you and to tell you about the Government’s housing policy and legislative programme. 

I like the theme of “Spring into Action” you’ve chosen for this conference.  It’s a theme this Government thoroughly endorses and the busy policy and legislative programme we have shows that we are putting in place lasting reforms that will build a more productive and competitive economy.

Hon Tariana Turia, Associate Minister of Housing, has today announced the Government has made changes to the Kainga Whenua loan scheme which will enable houses to be built on multiply owned Maori land.  The expanded policy will provide an opportunity to advance housing aspirations for whanau, hapu, Maori Land Trusts and individuals and will start rolling out on 1 December 2012 for individuals and in 2013 for trusts.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has released the Social Housing Fund Allocation Plan, setting out how the $104.1 million allocated in this year’s Budget will be spent on funding non-government housing providers over the next three years.

“This is the largest single Government investment ever made in community housing and demonstrates our determined response to the need for more social housing in New Zealand,” Mr Heatley said.

Over 150 households have been accommodated and moved through Canterbury’s three temporary accommodation villages since the first of them, at Kaiapoi, was set up in July last year, Housing Minister Phil Heatley said today.

“The villages, in Kaiapoi, Linwood and the latest at Rawhiti Domain, which opened in July this year, are delivering an additional 83 houses to the Christchurch housing market.

The first neighbourhood-based renewal programme in New Zealand will be formally launched in Auckland tomorrow when the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company opens its doors in the heart of Glen Innes, and chief executive Debra Lawson starts work.

“This is a first,” Housing Minister Phil Heatley says.

“Never before have all the components of a successful neighbourhood – its social life, job and business opportunities, the education of its children as well as the housing – been brought together in one programme.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has congratulated Housing New Zealand on the smooth introduction this month of new core technology systems.

Housing NZ has replaced its outdated tenancy management system with a specialist social housing system, replaced its financial system and introduced new systems to support asset management and planning.

Mr Heatley saw the new systems in operation for himself during a visit to Housing NZ’s Manurewa office yesterday.

Housing New Zealand has terminated 312 tenancies in the year to 30 June 2012 after investigations found the tenants had obtained a state house or taxpayer-subsidised rent by lying about their circumstances, Housing Minister Phil Heatley said today. The figure is up from 241 last year and 114 in 2010.

“There has been a sharp increase in the number of state tenancies ended for dishonesty over the past couple of years,” Mr Heatley said.

I’m delighted to be here today to share with you this exciting development in the Tāmaki Transformation Programme, and ultimately a positive advancement for the future generations of Tāmaki residents.  

I’m joined today by the Mayor of Auckland Council to sign the Tāmaki Heads of Agreement between the Crown and the Council – a first in New Zealand. This will see the people of Tāmaki placed at the centre of all future regeneration and development activities.

The Government and the Auckland Council signed a Heads of Agreement today to jointly form New Zealand’s first urban redevelopment company to transform Tâmaki (including Glen Innes, Point England and Panmure) in Auckland over the next 15-25 years.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley says that the jointly-owned Tâmaki Redevelopment Company (TRC) will bring together the right public and private partners, the right level of resource, authority and mandate to get results in Tâmaki. Similar companies have been successful internationally.

Thanks for the invitation to your conference. I’m glad to be here.

To start by going back a bit . . . in 1937, Mickey Savage carried a dining table through the front door of 12 Fife Lane, Miramar, here in Wellington, and opened New Zealand’s first state house.

He backed an excellent model.  It kicked off the development of mass state housing, provided shelter for generations of New Zealanders, and for several decades the state picked up the tab for good quality social housing used by working people.

Enid Ratahi-Pryor has been appointed to the Housing New Zealand Corporation board for a three-year term, Housing Minister Phil Heatley announced today.

Ms Ratahi-Pryor is the Chief Executive Officer of Te Tohu O Te Ora O Ngati Awa, a Maori social and health service provider based in Whakatane. She has an extensive background in health and social services and is a former member of the Government’s Welfare Working Group.

Mr Heatley said her appointment came at an important time for HNZC.

Social Housing Unit funding is to provide 25 new housing units for vulnerable people living in Christchurch.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley today announced the distribution of over $2 million of SHU funding earmarked for Canterbury.

“These new units will help vulnerable Christchurch people who need help to find suitable housing,” he said.

The largest grant, of $1.3 million, has gone to the Comcare Charitable Trust and will support a total project cost of $2.8 million to develop 20 single-person flats in four housing communities throughout Christchurch.

Indigenous Leaders in Senior Government positions
[the challenges and opportunities of being indigenous leaders within federal governments]

I want to begin by acknowledging the First Nations People who have welcomed us to your tribal lands and extended to us the spirit of generosity which has made us feel so at home.

Housing for Māori will take centre stage when Associate Housing Minister Tariana Turia attends the World Indigenous Housing Conference in Vancouver, Canada from 11 to 15th June.

“This is a unique opportunity to share common housing experiences with people from other countries and to learn from the best ideas and practices from around the world,” said Mrs Turia.

“I’m privileged to have been asked to take part in the National Housing Ministers Forum, and to hear how other nations have approached housing for their unique situations.”

Budget 2012 clearly signals the Government’s commitment to supporting affordable housing and the growth of non-government housing providers, Housing Minister Phil Heatley says.

“We’re committed to delivering the right houses to the right people in the right places,” he says. “Working with non-government providers, the Government is committed to improving housing affordability and providing assistance to households in need.”

People in need will get the most benefit from Government funding for new housing projects, to be developed by non-government providers.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley today announced the successful applicants to the $25.3 million Social Housing Unit (SHU) Growth Fund.

The aim of the Growth Fund is to increase the supply of social and affordable housing through non-government providers developing and providing housing at scale.

Sixteen of the new projects are in Auckland and will result in 153 extra homes in the city.

New social housing funding has gone to Māori and Rural whanau with housing challenges in Northland and the East Coast.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley and Associate Housing Minister Tariana Turia today announced Social Housing Unit (SHU) funding for Māori and Rural segments, from the $37.35 million Social Housing Fund.

“This money goes direct to the non-government providers who applied for it, and have undertaken to direct it straight to people in real need,” Mr Heatley said.

People with social housing needs, including low-income, vulnerable families, are to benefit from funding administered by the Social Housing Unit (SHU).

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has announced the first tranche of funding from the Niche segment of the $37.35 million Social Housing Fund.

“This is tightly targeted funding that is carefully managed by non-government housing providers who are in a position to direct the benefit straight to people in real need,” he said.

Thank you. I’m delighted to be here today to meet you and talk to you, and of course to present this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award.

Affordable, well-planned housing has a wonderful effect on people's lives.  Good housing helps to build vibrant and supportive communities and provide children with a safe, healthy environment in which to to grow up.