Articles tagged with Housing

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Government to Demolish Derelict MIT Buildings in Ōtara for Housing Redevelopment

01 Sep 2026 | 1 week ago | 145 views

Deteriorating and asbestos-riddled buildings on two former Manukau Institute of Technology sites in Ōtara, covering over eight hectares of Crown land, will be demolished to enable future housing redevelopment. The Government acquired these sites in 2019 through the Land for Housing Programme and is seeking zoning changes to repurpose the land from education to housing use. Preparations including project management appointments and contractor procurement will take about six months, followed by approximately 15 months for demolition and site remediation, with community updates planned throughout the process.

Tags: Manukau Institute of Technology Ōtara Chris Bishop Housing Minister Crown land Land for Housing Programme Plan Change 120 LINZ MCERT GETS

Demolition of Derelict MIT Buildings in Ōtara to Unlock Housing Development

01 Sep 2026 | 1 week ago | 149 views

Deteriorating and asbestos-riddled buildings at two former Manukau Institute of Technology sites in Ōtara, covering over 8 hectares of Crown land, will be demolished to address safety concerns and enable future housing development. The government acquired these sites in 2019 through the Land for Housing Programme and is seeking to rezone them from education to housing uses, with demolition and site remediation expected to take about 21 months. Preparatory work, including appointing project management and securing consents, will take around six months, with demolition contracts to be tendered through LINZ to ensure experienced contractors and competitive pricing.

Tags: Manukau Institute of Technology Ōtara Chris Bishop Housing Minister Crown land demolition Land for Housing Programme Plan Change 120 LINZ MCERT

New Independent Officer to Ensure Competitive Urban Land Markets in NZ Planning System

19 Aug 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 275 views

The government will establish an independent Urban Land Market Officer to monitor, assess, and ensure councils maintain competitive urban land markets by preventing artificial scarcity and enabling sufficient land supply for housing and business development. This role aims to address housing affordability and economic growth by holding councils accountable for zoning enough land and facilitating reforms such as abolishing rural-urban boundaries, setting housing growth targets, and easing private plan changes. The Officer’s independent scrutiny will promote transparency and enforce action where local planning decisions hinder land market competitiveness, supporting the government’s broader agenda to reform the planning system and boost housing supply.

Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Court Urban Land Market Officer Resource Management Act Planning Bill Housing Growth Targets National Policy Direction Ministry for Cities Environment Regions and Transport Planning Tribunal Commerce Commission

Government’s Flexible Fund Delivers 823 New Social and Affordable Homes in NZ

18 Aug 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 258 views

The Government’s Housing Flexible Fund has exceeded its initial target by enabling the delivery of 823 new social and affordable homes across nine high-need locations, primarily funded through Budget 2025 with $41 million in operating and around $60 million in capital funding. This data-driven, needs-based approach prioritizes one- and two-bedroom homes and actively involves over 30 Community Housing Providers, including many Māori providers with strong local ties, to ensure effective delivery tailored to community needs. Building on previous budgets, the Flexible Fund establishes a long-term pipeline for social housing, reduces borrowing costs for providers, and aims to deliver thousands more homes in coming years to address ongoing housing demand.

Tags: Chris Bishop Mr Potaka Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust Housing Minister Community Housing Providers Māori housing providers Ministry for Cities Environment Regions and Transport Housing Investment Plan

Government Enhances Infrastructure Funding to Support Fast-Track Developments in NZ

13 Aug 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 300 views

The New Zealand Government is enhancing infrastructure funding settings to ensure growth-related costs from Fast-track developments are recoverable by councils, addressing challenges like out-of-sequence projects and cross-boundary infrastructure impacts. Amendments to the Local Government Act 2002 will allow councils to update Development Contribution policies and recover costs more flexibly, serving as an interim measure until the new Development Levies system becomes operational in 2029. These changes aim to balance the acceleration of development through Fast-track approvals with fair infrastructure funding, supporting economic growth while maintaining effective service delivery.

Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Watts Development Contributions Development Levies Local Government Act 2002 Housing Growth Infrastructure funding New Zealand Government

Government Approves Kāinga Ora Arlington Reset to Deliver 104 New Social Homes in Wellington

12 Aug 2026 | 3 weeks ago | 269 views

The Government has approved a reset of the Kāinga Ora Arlington development to deliver 104 new social homes in central Wellington, with construction expected between 2027 and 2029, and will provide up to $6 million to Wellington City Council to support housing services for vulnerable people. The redesigned project replaces a previously paused, costly plan of 301 apartments, aiming for a more cost-effective approach with a mix of one-, two-, and four-bedroom homes, funded through Kāinga Ora’s renewals programme. Additionally, part of the Arlington site may be returned to the Council for further housing development, maximizing the use of the site and supporting community housing initiatives.

Tags: Chris Bishop Andrew Little Kāinga Ora Wellington City Council Arlington development social housing New Zealand government Mount Cook housing services Cabinet approval

Government Delivers 3,000 New Social Homes in Auckland Ahead of Schedule

28 Jul 2026 | 1 month ago | 328 views

The Government has surpassed its 2023 election commitment by delivering over 3,000 additional social homes in Auckland ahead of schedule, with a focus on meeting the needs of those requiring one- and two-bedroom properties, particularly in South and West Auckland. Kāinga Ora and Community Housing Providers contributed significantly to this achievement, which forms part of more than 8,400 new social homes delivered nationwide since November 2023. Ongoing investments through Budgets 2024 to 2026 aim to sustain a long-term pipeline of quality, fit-for-purpose social housing across New Zealand.

Tags: Chris Bishop Nicola Willis Kāinga Ora Community Housing Providers Auckland New Zealand Housing Minister National Party Social Housing Government

New Amendments Boost NZ Infrastructure Funding to Support Housing Growth

28 Jul 2026 | 1 month ago | 470 views

The Infrastructure Funding and Financing Amendment Bill passed today enhances the existing Act by simplifying processes, broadening eligible projects, and allowing operational costs to be funded through levies, addressing previous barriers that limited its use. This legislation enables private investment to fund essential infrastructure, such as roads and water services, with repayments made via levies on benefiting properties, thereby supporting housing growth and economic development. The changes aim to accelerate infrastructure delivery, provide greater certainty for developers, and ensure that growth is sustainably funded, aligning with the Government’s broader Going for Housing Growth programme.

Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Court Infrastructure Funding and Financing Amendment Bill New Zealand Housing Growth Milldale development New Zealand Transport Agency KiwiRail National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Environment Committee

New Zealand Social Housing Reform: Progress, Challenges, and Future Plans 2026

23 Jun 2026 | 2 months ago | 590 views

The Government acknowledges the broken social housing system and housing crisis driven by unaffordable housing and planning barriers, committing to reforms focused on building the right homes for those most in need through initiatives like the Housing Investment System, Kāinga Ora Turnaround Plan, and Flexible Fund. Significant progress includes stabilizing house prices and rents, reducing Kāinga Ora's debt, increasing social housing stock, lowering financing barriers for Community Housing Providers, and establishing a data-driven Housing Investment Plan to target resources effectively. The ongoing Review of Social Housing aims to create a fairer, more efficient system by refocusing support on those most in need, improving incentives for tenant independence, and working collaboratively with stakeholders to develop sustainable, long-term solutions.

Tags: Paul Gilberd Damon Salesa James Palmer Kāinga Ora Ngāti Whātua Orakei Community Housing Aotearoa Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Ministry of Social Development Social Investment Agency Social Housing Review

Government Expands Homelessness Support to Six New Locations in NZ

16 Jun 2026 | 2 months ago | 549 views

The New Zealand Government is expanding homelessness support services to six new locations and extending existing initiatives in major cities, backed by an additional $14.54 million funding to provide tailored local assistance. Since September 2025, efforts like the Housing First programme and transitional housing pilots have successfully moved 674 rough sleepers into stable housing and delivered over 1,500 support activities addressing mental health, addiction, and benefit registration. These measures aim to address both immediate housing needs and the broader challenges linked to homelessness, with community organizations playing a key role in delivering effective, locally-led support.

Tags: Chris Bishop Tama Potaka Housing First homelessness New Zealand outreach services transitional housing social homes Government funding homelessness support providers

New Social Homes in Tauranga Designed for Autistic Adults Opened

01 Jun 2026 | 3 months ago | 752 views

Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced the opening of seven new social homes in Tauranga specifically designed for autistic adults, developed by Autism NZ’s provider Equity House and funded through Budget 2024. These homes address the shortage of one-bedroom social housing and feature sensory-friendly designs like dimmer switches and neutral colors to support residents' independence and comfort. Each resident has a self-contained unit within a supportive community, with access to pastoral care for daily needs, ensuring safety, dignity, and confidence.

Tags: Chris Bishop Equity House Autism NZ Housing Minister Tauranga Budget 2024 social homes autistic community New Zealand social housing

Budget 2026 Boosts Auckland’s Growth with Health, Housing, Transport & Education Investments

29 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 815 views

Budget 2026 invests in Auckland’s health, housing, transport, and education to support its role as New Zealand’s economic engine. Key initiatives include funding for a South Auckland Hospital, a $400 million housing growth fund, over $1 billion for KiwiRail improvements, and $1.6 billion for schools. These investments aim to create a thriving, resilient city that drives national growth and fiscal responsibility.

Tags: Budget 2026 Auckland Simon Watts New Zealand health funding housing growth KiwiRail education investment economic growth infrastructure

Budget 2026 Boosts Social Housing with $69.2M for 2,250 New Homes in NZ

28 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 990 views

Budget 2026 allocates an additional $69.2 million to the Flexible Fund to deliver 1800-2250 new social homes from 2028/29, building on previous investments that have already reduced the social housing waitlist. The Flexible Fund replaces fragmented housing funding with a targeted, needs-based approach that supports diverse providers and local solutions tailored to varying regional demands. This funding ensures a four-year pipeline of social housing projects, providing community housing providers with long-term certainty to plan and build more warm, dry, and secure homes for New Zealanders in need.

Tags: Chris Bishop New Zealand Budget 2026 social housing Flexible Fund Community Housing Providers Māori providers Auckland housing waitlist government investment

Government Launches $400M Incentives Fund to Boost Housing Growth and Support Councils

28 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 721 views

The New Zealand Government is investing $400 million over four years in the Incentives for Growth Fund to encourage local councils to support housing growth by providing payments tied to the number of new home consents they approve. This fund aims to transform housing development from a cost burden into a revenue opportunity for councils, helping them finance necessary infrastructure and services ahead of population growth. The initiative is part of the broader Going for Housing Growth programme, which seeks to reform planning laws, improve infrastructure funding, and align council incentives to better address the country’s housing crisis.

Tags: David Seymour Chris Bishop Simon Watts Incentives for Growth Fund Housing Growth Local Government Budget 2026 Going for Housing Growth Resource Management Act

Budget 2026 Welfare Package: Supporting Kiwis into Work and Independence

28 May 2026 | 3 months ago | 661 views

Budget 2026’s welfare package aims to encourage employment and independence while supporting those most in need through targeted investments. Key initiatives include $45 million for community food support, $93.3 million to help sole parents find work, and $22.4 million to prevent and reduce emergency housing needs, generating significant net savings over four years. Social Development Minister Louise Upston emphasizes the government’s commitment to a fair, sustainable welfare system that effectively helps people transition off benefits despite economic challenges.

Tags: Budget 2026 welfare package Louise Upston Social Development Employment Minister community food support sole parents assistance emergency housing New Zealand families social safety net