The Herald's Home Truths series has highlighted the serious problems that make housing unaffordable - but also pointed to some solutions, writes Andrew Laxon.
Home truths in Auckland's housing
An MOU has been signed between Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, the Hobsonville Land Company and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for housing developments in north-west Auckland. “The first development to progress with Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara will be the nine hectare Village Precinct in Hobsonville of 400 homes. The subdivision is to proceed next summer with the first homes to be completed in early 2018.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu announced the completion of its Addington housing project, which was launched last week in Lincoln Road.The project has seen three earthquake-affected houses in Sumner moved to Addington and renovated to provide modern comfortable homes for whānau still struggling with the impact of the earthquakes.
Cabinet has now agreed the proposed regulations that will come into effect from 1 July 2016 for community housing organisations. Information about the regulations are on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website.
In an article in the Herald today, Nicholas Ross Smith and Zbigniew Dumienski (lecturers in politics and international relations at the University of Auckland) say that land tax is arguably the simplest, easiest to administer and most effective solution to housing unaffordability.
The Auckland Development Committee today voted by 14 to 8 to increase the amount of council-owned housing for older people.
The Notice of Motion (attached) was presented by Councillors Cathy Casey and John Watson. Presentations in support were made at the committee by Auckland Council’s Seniors Panel, Richard Northey of Auckland District Council of Social Services and Bill Rayner of Auckland Grey Power.
Expressions of interest will be sought from Community Housing Providers keen to purchase Horowhenua District Council’s 115 pensioner housing units. Council met today to deliberate and make its decision, following a comprehensive review and public consultation on a proposal that it no longer provides pensioner housing as a core service.
Te Aro Pā papakāinga - Wellington’s first urban papakāinga opened
Matt Paetz, a leading New Zealand planner specialising in housing policy and development who is presenting at the New Zealand Planning Institute’s annual conference in Dunedin next week, has worked on housing accords and SHAs in Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown.
