The Government announced on 5 July that it had approved an additional Special Housing Area (SHA) in the Queenstown district which is expected to provide more than 300 homes, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says.
The latest newsletter from urban design team, Boffa Miskell, has a focus on housing. Included in this is an article with Community Housing Aotearoa, a look at Wellington City Council upgrading of its social housing stock, and they write about the work they have been doing working with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei on the development of a 30-house medium density village in Ōrākei.
This is an opinion piece from Geoff Penrose, General Manager of Lifemark Design looking at the 'housing crisis' and how we are responding to it. In the solutions to this crisis, he asks, what will the dwellings be used for, what types of people will live there, what will they want and what duty of care is there to provide homes that adapt to the physical, social and cognitive needs of the occupants?
Local councils in Christchurch, Queenstown, Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland will be able to apply for money to bring forward new roads, and water infrastructure needed for new housing, where financing is a constraint. Prime Minister John Key made the announcement as part of his keynote speech today at the National Party conference, being held in Christchurch.
In this issue we have a new member profile: Christchurch Tenants Protection Association, we learn how to be a great advocate for tenants from Helen Gatonyi who leaves TPA today after 25 years and we have an update on methamphetamine contamination in rental accommodation, amongst other news.
Tenancy law changes covering smoke alarms, insulation, enforcement of standards and property abandonment come into effect tomorrow.
The City Housing Team at Wellington City Council has an opportunity to make a genuine difference for a passionate, people-oriented and solution-focused person prepared to take on the challenge of Tenancy Advisor.
The growing issue of methamphetamine contamination is challenging landlords across New Zealand and Australia. The Australasian Housing Institute in collaboration with Housing New Zealand and Community Housing Aotearoa recently hosted a presentation to share the Housing New Zealand’s approach to managing meth contamination across its national portfolio. A report on this 9 June event follows.
Wellington community housing organisation, Dwell Housing Trust, recently received some negative press as a result of one of their homes being closed and the tenants being relocated to new homes. This was a very difficult situation for Dwell to handle and, despite handling the situation with sensitivity and with considerable thought for tenant welfare, as Dwell CEO Alison Cadman says: “not all publicity is good publicity.”
On the eve of her departure from TPA, Helen Gatonyi gives some advice for tenant advocates.
Helen Gatonyi came to TPA for a six month contract and stayed for 25 years. This week TPA’s Manager will be leaving to take up new opportunities. I asked her what advice she would give a new tenant advocate- and this is what she said:
“It’s all about the human story when you’re working as an advocate. How you hear the story and work with that person to address what’s going on,” says Helen. “It’s hearing with an open ear and being aware of what’s being held back- that’s what works best in an advocate, listening with respect.”
