New urban development agency unveiled to build more homes

The new authority will be responsible for leading the Government’s large-scale urban development projects and for being a world class state housing landlord. It will bring together three existing agencies that build homes – Housing New Zealand, its subsidiary HLC, and...

Tauranga housing company pays the rent as prices soar

Ryan Hunt, Managing Director of Highmark Homes, said they identified that the prospect of making payments during the build was a major barrier for customers. “Often customers are having to pay rent at the same time as servicing debt to start construction, so with...

First New Plymouth KiwiBuild homes

There will be 68 modest starter homes built in Marfell with two-thirds being three-bedroom homes and the remainder four-bedroom. All of them will be built to a Homestar 6 rating with construction starting early next year. Phil Twyford said KiwiBuild is about restoring...

Dwell celebrates five years in business and a new build

L-R: Minister Jenny Salesa and Dwell Patron Judge Peter Boshier are placing a time capsule with the hope that when it is found New Zealand no longer has a housing crisis. Recently Dwell took the opportunity to mark the fifth anniversary of this very successful merger...

Salvation Army Supports Māori Housing Unit

The Salvation Army supports the appointment of the Hon Nanaia Mahuta as new Associate Minister of Housing and Urban Development (Māori Housing) and the establishment of the unit as an valuable step to addressing the housing crisis. Salvation Army Social Policy and...

Tenancy fee shows failure of letting-fee ban

A law change was passed at the start of this month to ban letting fees, which are usually equal to a week’s rent, which on average is $421, plus GST. The ban comes into effect on December 12. As part of the Government’s policy of “making life better for renters”,...

No small feat: High School students build tiny houses at Ara

Carpentry tutor Mick Cooke is excited about the growing housing trend and says he’s wanted to build a tiny house for a few years. “I think tiny houses are great. I’d love one! Imagine getting one of these as a bach somewhere like Motunau or Cheviot, it would be ideal...

Major New Initiative to Improve New Zealand Homes

For the very first time in New Zealand, Kiwis will be able to simply check any home to see if it is warm, safe and dry, thanks to the launch of the new project, called HomeFit. HomeFit empowers Kiwis to find out the health of a home in two ways. Firstly, there’s a...

Martin Cole appointed new Chief Executive of Comcare Trust

Comcare Trust is known in Christchurch as an innovative organisation that takes a practical approach to mental health and addiction, developing new services and doing what is necessary to assist people to overcome the barriers to independence and move forward. Comcare...