The Government has released a “Public Housing Plan 2021-2024” outlining where it intends to construct 8000 additional public and transitional housing places, as it announced in its Budget 2020 last year.
“The Government is committed to continuing its public house build programme at pace and scale,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.
“The extra 8000 homes, 6000 public housing places and 2000 transitional housing places reinforces the Government’s investment in public housing.
“The plan confirms we are on track to deliver over 18,000 extra places by 2024.
Fixing the housing crisis
“This is not only delivering more warm, dry public housing for those most vulnerable to housing shortages, but also boosts economic activity, jobs in the building sector, employment and apprenticeship opportunities for young people.
“Fixing the housing crisis is a key focus of this Government, and our public housing programme plays a key part in enabling more housing to be built through infrastructure investment and support for the construction sector.
“Since November 2017 we have added 4579 newly-built state homes across New Zealand — we are building more new public housing than any government has done in two decades,” Ardern says.
Housing Minister Megan Woods says the need for public housing for the most vulnerable members of our communities continues to grow.
“This follows decades of insufficient new housing stock being built, and the selling off of thousands of state homes by the previous National Government,” Woods says.
“As this plan outlines, we will focus on building more public and transitional housing in New Zealand’s regions where population growth has significantly exceeded housing, leading to rent rises, housing shortages and deprivation.
“Te Tuapapa Kura Kainga, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, will concentrate on locations with high need and where demand for public housing is the greatest.
“While public housing will continue to be delivered across the country, there is a particular focus on Northland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North and Whanganui.
“The Public Housing Plan is one part of a range of housing initiatives to address the housing crisis.
“The Government is also reviewing market settings to provide more help to first home buyers, and innovative ideas to increase the supply of affordable homes,” Woods says.
