About us
Priority six
Share responsibility for the New Zealand Housing Strategy
During 2007/08 the Corporation:
- provided a policy and research work programme to support the Minister of Housing and the Corporation
- provided policy advice to support the Government's policy programme on housing affordability
- continued to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the New Zealand Housing Strategy.
This priority relates to strategic and operational policy advice, ministerial support, and research and evaluation that supports the New Zealand Housing Strategy. The Corporation worked with other agencies to implement the Government's programme of action under the New Zealand Housing Strategy and provide policy advice and support to the Minister of Housing.
The financial costs of this priority can be found on this page.
What was achieved
Policy advice
The major focus of the policy work programme in 2007/08 was housing affordability, following on from the cross-agency work of the House Prices Unit coordinated by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Corporation provided advice on the development of the Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill, the development of the Shared Equity scheme, the Tamaki Transformation Project and land supply. Other areas included the development of the KiwiSaver home deposit subsidy and housing on Maori freehold land.
The evaluation of the Rural Housing Programme was completed during the year. The evaluation highlighted the continued desire from stakeholders to address substandard housing in rural areas. The evaluation found that, while the Rural Housing Programme had addressed the immediate health and safety needs in approximately 1,500 households, the extent of substandard housing that needs to be addressed is much greater than first envisaged. The findings from this evaluation have guided the redevelopment and re-targeting of the programme in 2008/09.
The measure was 100 percent delivery of policy advice according to the agreed policy and research work programme. This measure was achieved by reprioritising and providing increased resources to respond to the Government's priority on housing affordability.
The New Zealand Housing Strategy
The New Zealand Housing Strategy was launched in May 2005. It provides a framework and direction for government activity in the housing sector to 2015. The strategy's programme of action is divided into seven areas of action. Initiatives identified under each area reflect the priorities the Government wants to emphasise during this time.
The measure was to prepare an indicator report. This measure was achieved. The Corporation provided monitoring reports on progress against the strategy.
The policy work programme
The Corporation's policy team provides policy advice on housing and housing issues to the Minister of Housing, on behalf of the Board. It also supports the Minister to implement Government policy, and provides policy support for the Corporation. Staff work closely with other government agencies and organisations with a role in housing to ensure that housing policy aligns with wider government policy initiatives.
The measure was to submit policy work programme reports seven working days following the end of each month. This measure was achieved.
Ministerial support
During the year the Corporation responded to:
- 1,038 ministerials (forecast 750)
- 990 written parliamentary questions (forecast 550)
- 82 Official Information Act requests to the Minister and the Chief Executive (forecast 60)
- 36 oral questions (forecast 15)
- 184 briefing notes (forecast 100)
- 1,274 information requests from the Minister's office (forecast 490).
Work volumes have increased by more than 50 percent compared with the previous financial year, which impacted on the timeliness for a small number of responses. The accuracy for ministerials in 2007/08 was 96.2 percent. This reflects the benefits from implementing an extra peer review step, helping improve the quality standard achieved during the year.
Looking ahead
The Corporation's priorities for 2008/09 will be to continue the policy development work associated with the Government's housing affordability work programme. Particular areas of focus will be on working with other agencies to investigate options for bridging the 'affordability gap' faced by households that aspire to home ownership. This will be achieved through: investigating ways to utilise Crown and Corporation land, contributing to reducing the costs of building and development, supporting the passage and implementation of the Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill, and continuing to develop a range and mix of home ownership products. The Corporation will also maintain its role in monitoring and reporting on developments in the sector, and supporting new initiatives such as the development of a Housing Strategy for Pacific Peoples.
