Christchurch City Council is ploughing ahead with replacing its earthquake-damaged and red-zoned social housing, with three new developments under way in as many weeks.
The Government is being accused of exploiting charities to push through its state house sell-off plan.
The group representing community housing providers says the government focus needs to shift from asset sales to investment in families and healthy communities.
Accessible Properties remains committed to pursuing the purchase of housing from the New Zealand Government.
The Government is set to loosen a requirement that former state houses be kept as low-income rentals for those most in need.
Nelson Tasman Housing Trust recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, having been set up in 2004 as a community response to a Social Wellbeing report that identified housing affordability as a critical issue in Nelson Tasman.
The Salvation Army says it felt pressured into carrying out expensive, time-consuming research on buying unwanted state houses because the Government repeatedly referred to the charity as a likely buyer.
Property Institute of New Zealand Chief Executive, Ashley Church, is urging the Government to review the way in which it proposes to transfer state houses to the voluntary sector following a decision, by the Salvation Army, not to participate in the program.
CHA Director Scott Figenshow is interviewed in this report.
Social provider admits it lacks ‘expertise, resources’, leaves field open to property developers, financiers.
