Articles tagged with Housing Minister
Rotorua Ends Contracted Emergency Housing, Rehousing Families for Stability
1 week ago | 86 viewsThe Government has officially ended contracted emergency housing in Rotorua, reducing reliance on temporary motel accommodations by 85 percent and rehousing all families into permanent homes. This marks a significant improvement from the previous system, which trapped families in unstable living situations and damaged the city's reputation. While contracted emergency housing motels have closed, non-contracted emergency housing remains available as a last-resort option for those in genuine need.
Tags: Tama Potaka Todd McClay Rotorua Government Emergency Housing Housing Minister Labour Government Whānau Tourism HomelessnessNew Zealand's New Planning System to Boost Housing Growth and Homeowner Freedom
2 weeks ago | 396 viewsThe New Zealand Government is overhauling its planning system to address the housing crisis by simplifying rules, increasing land supply, and enabling more competitive urban land markets, thereby making it easier and faster to build homes. The reforms include standardizing zoning nationwide, reducing consent complexities, allowing more development without council approval, and providing clear national direction with ambitious housing growth targets. These changes aim to lower costs, increase housing choice, strengthen property rights, and support sustainable urban expansion, with legislation expected to pass by 2026.
Tags: Chris Bishop New Zealand Government RMA Reform Housing Minister Planning Bill Resource Management Act Going for Housing Growth National Policy Statement ParliamentOur Whare Our Fale: Affordable Homes and Jobs Boost in Eastern Porirua
2 weeks ago | 154 viewsThe Our Whare Our Fale housing programme in Eastern Porirua has completed its first stage, delivering 18 affordable, energy-efficient homes and a communal fale, with plans for up to 300 homes by 2034. The initiative, supported by a $114.6 million government investment and partnerships with local iwi and community groups, creates local jobs and offers financial support measures like shared equity and perpetual land leases to keep homes affordable. This programme aims to strengthen the local economy, promote multigenerational living, and provide families with stable, healthy housing and improved financial security.
Tags: Shane Reti Tama Potaka Central Pacific Collective Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira Ministry for Pacific Peoples Ngāti Toa Our Whare Our Fale Pacific Peoples Minister Associate Housing Minister Eastern PoriruaNew Zealand Government Advances Infrastructure Funding Reforms to Boost Housing Growth
4 weeks ago | 155 viewsThe New Zealand Government is advancing reforms to improve infrastructure funding and financing to support housing and urban growth, focusing on land supply, infrastructure, and growth incentives through its Going for Housing Growth programme. Key initiatives include introducing the Infrastructure Funding and Financing (IFF) Amendment Bill, replacing development contributions with a new development levies system, and proposing the Commerce Commission as the regulator for development levies to ensure fairness and transparency. Public consultation on these reforms runs until February 2026, aiming to create a flexible, consistent system that enables faster housing development and better infrastructure delivery.
Tags: Chris Bishop Simon Watts Scott Simpson Housing Minister Local Government Minister Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Infrastructure Funding and Financing Development Levies Commerce Commission New Zealand GovernmentNew Pet-Friendly Rental Laws Enhacted for Tenants and Landlords
1 month ago | 275 viewsStarting from December 1, 2025, changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will provide tenants with pets more rental property options, as announced by Housing Minister Chris Bishop, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, and Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. The new policy introduces a pet bond system allowing landlords and tenants to lodge, top-up, or refund pet bonds, aiming to facilitate pet-friendly rentals and benefit both tenants and landlords. The reforms emphasize the importance of fairness, trust, and supporting a well-functioning rental property market, with a focus on practical solutions that cater to the needs of renters and property owners alike.
Tags: Government Residential Tenancies Act Housing Minister Chris Bishop Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka tenants landlords pet bonds system rental marketCanterbury to Receive 65+ New Social Homes from Community Housing Providers, Housing Minister Announces
2 months ago | 257 viewsThe Housing Minister announced that more than 65 new social homes will be built in Canterbury by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) as part of the government's commitment to social housing. These homes are part of over 6,800 net new social homes delivered nationwide since November 2023, with 837 in Canterbury, and funding for an additional 2,000 homes over the next two years. The homes in Canterbury will be located in various suburbs and will primarily consist of one- and two-bedroom units to address the high demand for such properties in the region.
Tags: social homes Canterbury Community Housing Providers Housing Minister Chris Bishop Kāinga Ora Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Christchurch Methodist Mission Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust housing register emergency housing.Government-iwi Partnership to Deliver 80 Affordable Rental Homes in Rotorua by 2027
2 months ago | 423 viewsThe Government and Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands Inc are partnering to build 80 affordable rental homes at Manawa Gardens in Rotorua by mid-2027, with a total investment of $45 million. These homes aim to provide housing security for kaumātua, working whānau, and others in need, with rents capped at 80% of market rates for 25 years. This initiative is part of the broader commitment to deliver 400 affordable rental homes for Māori across New Zealand by 2027, aiming to address housing pressures and transition away from emergency motels.
Tags: Tama Potaka Ngāti Whakaue Tribal Lands Inc Manawa Gardens Rotorua affordable rental homes housing Māori whānau Associate Housing MinisterGovernment-Funded Social Home Deliveries by Community Housing Providers: Progress Update and Future Plans
3 months ago | 612 viewsCommunity Housing Providers (CHPs) are actively delivering over 2,000 social homes funded by the Coalition Government, with a focus on allocating 1,500 social houses from Budget 2024 and 550 social homes for Auckland from Budget 2025. The government is committed to building the right homes in the right places for those in need, with a new housing investment system centered on strategic partnerships with CHPs and a Flexible Fund established in Budget 2025 to drive further change in social housing. Progress is being made in improving housing for Kiwis, including reducing the social housing register, moving families out of motels into social housing, and partnering with Māori housing providers to deliver affordable rental homes across the country.
Tags: Community Housing Providers CHPs Coalition Government Housing Minister Chris Bishop Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka Kāinga Ora Ministry of Housing and Urban Development HUD Budget 2024 Budget 2025Government Launches 5 Actions to Support Rough Sleepers into Social Homes
3 months ago | 415 viewsThe Government is taking immediate actions to address homelessness in New Zealand, focusing on expanding support for rough sleepers and providing more social housing options. These actions include funding additional social homes for the Housing First program, increasing support services for rough sleepers, improving the efficiency of transitional housing, redirecting beneficiaries' income to contribute to accommodation costs, and encouraging greater discretion in assessing emergency housing applications. The aim is to deliver the right homes, in the right places, with the right supports for rough sleepers and address the root causes of homelessness in the country.
Tags: Government Housing Minister Chris Bishop Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka homelessness social homes Housing First programme transitional housing emergency housing Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Louise UpstonGovernment Unveils Plan to Combat Rising Homelessness Crisis in New Zealand
5 months ago | 940 viewsThe Government released the latest Homelessness Insights Report, addressing the issue of homelessness in New Zealand and the increasing numbers of people without shelter. Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka emphasized the need for targeted interventions and support services to combat homelessness, highlighting the complexity of the issue and the importance of engaging with frontline organizations. The Government is committed to long-term solutions, including reforms in the housing market, infrastructure funding, and social housing systems to address the root causes of homelessness and provide stable housing for all New Zealanders.
Tags: Government Homelessness Insights Report New Zealand Housing Minister Chris Bishop Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Auckland City Mission Salvation Army Emergency Housing Transitional HousingMinister Chris Bishop to Explore Urban Development Strategies in New York and Texas
5 months ago | 1070 viewsInfrastructure, Transport and Housing Minister Chris Bishop will travel to New York and Texas tomorrow for a range of meetings across housing, planning, urban development and transport, including a keynote speech at the Urban Design Forum’s Global Exchange Programme. “In New York I will be holding a series of meetings with city officials and other stakeholders about their introduction of congestion pricing. The early results for New York are very promising, and with legislation allowing time of use charging schemes in New Zealand soon to report back from select committee, I look forward to bringing home lessons learned to ensure our scheme is a success from the start,” Mr Bishop says.
Tags: Chris Bishop Infrastructure Transport Housing Minister New York Texas Urban Design Forum Edward Glaeser affordable housing planning