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About us

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• Chairman's report
• Chief Executive's Report
• Outcomes framework
• Strategic framework
• Achievements in 2007/08
  • Priority one
  • Priority two
  • Priority three
  • Priority four
  • Priority five
  • Priority six
• Statement of responsibility
• Statement of service performance
• Financial Statements
• Audit report - Housing New Zealand Corporation and Group
• Audit Report - Housing Agency Account
• Corporate Governance
• Staff
• Appendix 1

About us

Priority one

Build diverse, strong and sustainable communities

During 2007/08 the Corporation:

• reconfigured its housing stock
• identified specific solutions for the Auckland region
• undertook six Community Renewal programmes
• implemented 939 Healthy Housing solutions
• modernised state housing to appropriately defined standards
• conducted regular maintenance on existing housing.

Living in a community marked by social and economic disadvantage can have a negative effect on people's health, wellbeing and safety. The Corporation addresses this by promoting and creating diverse communities and fostering good community facilities - schools, open spaces, transport links, shops and employment.

Auckland is a particular challenge. Over 40 percent of the Corporation's housing is in the Auckland area and demand is growing. The Government expected the Corporation to develop a strategy for Auckland to guide future planning and support those most in need of housing assistance.

A key factor in the success of social housing interventions is the formation of partnerships with other government agencies, community organisations and business partners.

This priority reflects a commitment to long-term sustainable housing solutions through the Healthy Housing programme, modernisation and maintenance of existing homes, Community Renewal projects and the energy efficiency retrofit programme. The financial costs of this priority can be found on this page.

What was achieved

Auckland is experiencing sustained population growth disproportionate to the rest of New Zealand. To deal with growth and increased pressures within the housing market in the Auckland region, the Corporation has identified a need to develop Auckland-specific housing solutions.

The measure was to develop and implement a definitive Auckland strategy by 30 June 2008. While the overall measure was not achieved, the strategy was partially completed. Work is continuing on the strategy, which will now be finalised and implemented in 2008/09.

Relying solely on the New Zealand Building Code is not sufficient for social housing. The Housing New Zealand Corporation Development Guide is a practical response to the challenge of raising the standard of social housing provided in New Zealand. The Development Guide provides a design framework to be used as a tool when constructing and reconfiguring state houses.

The measure was to ensure that 100 percent of all property developments referenced and considered the Development Guide. This measure was achieved, with 100 percent compliance.

The Corporation inspects all homes once a year against a property condition standard. The inspection checks the condition of the home, ensures it is maintained to Corporation standards, confirms the property meets the Building Act and fire safety regulations, and checks that smoke detectors are in place and working.

Properties that have nine or fewer maintenance defects recorded are reported as compliant, in that they meet the property condition standard.

The measure was to ensure that more than 88 percent of state houses were maintained against the property condition standard. This measure was achieved, with 88.6 percent of houses maintained to the required standard.

The Corporation is committed to providing drier, warmer, healthier homes for tenants. Since 2001, the Corporation has retrofitted homes built pre-1978, before insulation was mandatory. About 16,500 state houses have been insulated to date. The energy efficiency retrofit programme has now been reprioritised to retrofit the remaining 21,000 properties within five years.

An energy efficiency retrofit may include:

• ceiling and under-floor insulation
• hot water cylinder wraps and pipe lagging
• draught stops
• improved ventilation.

The benefits from undertaking this programme include:

• improved occupant health
• cost savings to the tenant on energy use
• reduced maintenance, arrears, turnover and fewer complaints
• reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The measure was to energy retrofit 2,150-2,300 state houses. This measure was achieved, with 2,296 properties completed.

Community Renewal is a partnership between the Corporation, people living and working in renewal areas, local councils and other agencies. The main goals of Community Renewal are to address social exclusion, foster strong and sustainable communities, and improve the physical assets and appearance of neighbourhoods.

Community Renewal operates in communities with high social needs and potential for improvement. Rates of unemployment, educational achievement, overcrowding, crime and home ownership are taken into account.

Community Renewal began in December 2001. It encourages communities and agencies to work together to identify and prioritise projects that will lead to strong, sustainable communities.

Projects vary and may include:

• improvements to the physical environment and amenities
• supporting growth in employment and training opportunities
• improving access to affordable community services
• supporting initiatives that increase neighbourhood safety and reduce crime
• helping residents establish networks and build community spirit.

The measure was to undertake six Community Renewal projects. This measure was achieved.

• Fordlands (Rotorua). The Rotorua District Council has had an increased presence in Fordlands. The Mayor and Councillors regularly attend residents' group meetings, and support street makeovers and Fordlands family fun days. The Council has provided extra money to upgrade the Fordlands shops. The Corporation has helped with crime prevention through environmental design fencing and general beautification of the area. Eastern Porirua (Wellington). Community Renewal is a partner to Porirua city becoming accredited as a World Health Organisation Safe Community. Community Renewal has been a founding organisational member of the Safer Porirua Strategic Group that has driven the accreditation process. An application to become a World Health Organisation Safe Community, endorsed by the Porirua City Council, has been accepted by the Safe Communities Foundation.
• Talbot Park (Auckland). The final stage of the physical works within the Talbot Park project were completed in 2007/08. A 24-unit star block refurbishment was completed in February 2008. Returning tenants said they were very pleased with the outcome and the new design of the buildings. In 2007, the Talbot Park Community Renewal project was a winner in the New Zealand Institute of Architects Resene local architecture awards for a walk-up apartment complex, the Australasian Housing Institution Award for Professional Excellence for its outstanding contribution community renewal, and the National Property Council urban design award.
• Northcote (Auckland). A highlight in the Northcote project is the Champs programme, which is a children's music, arts and sports programme set up by the Corporation, and which is now run by the local community. More than 25 children attend twice a week. A mentoring programme began earlier in the year, after a former Northcote resident read about the success of the Champs programme and wanted to mentor the community. The former resident's employer, Hawkins Construction, is mentoring 10 unemployed young people from Northcote, preparing them for further employment opportunities. As the success of the programme spread throughout Northcote, four more young people have joined the mentor programme.
• Otangarei and Wiri. Two new projects began in Otangarei (Whangarei) and Wiri (Auckland) in 2007/08. The Community Renewal project in Otangarei began in the latter half of 2007. It has flourished, with widespread support and understanding of the project and its aims from residents and stakeholder organisations. The Wiri project was formalised at the end of the 2007/08 year. The project has strong stakeholder support from the Manukau City Council and the Sisters of Mercy.

The Healthy Housing programme has been improving health and housing outcomes for Housing New Zealand tenants since 2001. The Healthy Housing programme is a partnership with district health boards in Counties-Manukau, Auckland, Northland and Hutt Valley. The programme operates in areas with high rates of potentially avoidable housingrelated hospitalisations and significant concentrations (over 20 percent) of state housing.

The Healthy Housing programme was originally designed to reduce the risk of infectious disease, particularly meningococcal disease. Over the life of the programme it has evolved to reduce housingrelated hospitalisations, particularly for crowdingrelated diseases.

The three-year outcomes evaluation¹ of the Healthy Housing programme was also completed. The results were extremely positive and outcomes include:

• a 37 percent reduction in potentially avoidable hospitalisations for families in Counties-Manukau that have benefited from the programme²
• positive changes in family life
• participation in community activities
• better health and wellbeing
• increased perception of safety and a sense of comfort
• pride and happiness in the home
• improved care of the home.

The measure was to assist 550-610 families. This measure was significantly exceeded. In 2007/08 the programme assisted 939 families with a housing solution to improve their health. Solutions included improving insulation, ventilation and heating, modifying properties for people with disabilities and moving overcrowded families to larger homes, or extending their existing home.

Modernisation work is undertaken on selected state houses. Selection of homes considers:

• health and safety issues
• the suitability of the house for modern living, such as enough bench space and space for a microwave and fridge
• how the house could help meet future housing needs
• the cost of the work.

The modernisation programme includes discussion with the tenant on ways to improve the layout of their home. Improvements may include upgrading some or all of the kitchen or bathroom, knocking out walls to increase living spaces, or adding a deck or sliding doors.

The work may also include improved car parking, security, fencing, heating and ventilation. In some homes, rooms may be added or extended.

The measure was to modernise 1,500-1,608 homes. This measure was achieved, with 1,585 homes modernised.

Work will continue on the finalisation of the Auckland strategy. The Corporation will also continue to implement joint work with other agencies to respond to the needs of families in South Auckland for emergency housing.

Warmer, drier and healthier homes are a high priority to improve tenant health and deliver energy cost savings. The energy efficiency retrofit programme will be fast-tracked over the next five years so the remaining 21,000 properties are insulated.

Research into education outcomes from Healthy Housing interventions will continue.

Existing housing will be maintained to an appropriate level so homes are suitable for modern living. Improvements will continue to make homes warmer, drier, more energy efficient and safer. More homes will be built and leased to address the demand for state housing.

To help build capability within communities where there is a significant amount of social housing, the Corporation will adopt a community focus in all its programmes. This will include rolling out a Community Renewal approach, and building links with other agencies providing services to these communities.

1 Auckland UniServices Ltd (2005-2007) The Health Housing Programme: Report on the Outcomes Evaluation (Years 1-3), August 2007.

2 Gary Jackson, Jude Woolston and Dean Papa (2006) The impact of housing improvements on acute hospitalisations at Middlemore. A PowerPoint presentation, March 2008.