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Research and Policy

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• Online version - New Zealand Housing Strategy
  • Online version - New Zealand Housing Strategy - Foreword
  • Building the Future
  • Programme of Action
  • Area 1 - Sustainable Housing Supply
  • Area 2 - Assistance and Affordability
  • Area 3 - Homeownership
  • Area 4 - Private Rental Sector
  • Area 5 - Housing Quality
  • Area 6 - Sector Capability
  • Area 7 - Meeting Diverse Needs
  • Appendices - Principles
  • Appendices - Glossary and Acronyms

Research and Policy

Programme of Action

This Strategy sets out Government?s programme of action for housing over the coming 10 years.We will:

1. Work with industry and local government to bring about sustainable housing supply
2. Improve housing assistance and affordability
3. Improve access to homeownership
4. Develop the private rental sector
5. Improve housing quality
6. Strengthen housing sector capability
7. Meet diverse needs.

Staging and Priorities

The programme of action is broad and a range of government agencies will play a part in its implementation.Activities will include programmes already underway or previously committed to, as well as new initiatives.The Government has steadily increased the number of state houses (adding more than 4,800 between 1999 and 30 June 2005) and will continue to add more.The review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 is already underway and will inform further work to improve security of tenure in the private rental market.Similarly, the Housing Innovation Fund and Local Government Fund established in 2003 to encourage third sector groups, iwi and Māori organisations, and local government to increase their involvement in social housing are already up and running.

The seven areas of action are inter-related and, taken together, their combined effect will produce greater benefits.An increase in the supply of housing, for example, may both alleviate affordability pressures in some places, and provide new options for aspiring homeowners.Improving quality and security of tenure in the private rental market will make renting a better option for those for whom stability is important and could alleviate pressure on state house waiting lists.A stronger third sector will provide housing options for people with particular needs that are not readily met through either the private market or state housing.

Some initiatives require investment to build sector capability, and will take time to develop.The third sector is growing, but from a small base.Government is keen to foster that development and growth in capability by developing new housing models and approaches, in partnership with community-based organisations.

The development of work programmes for the diverse needs groups will be a priority.Initiatives under other areas of the Strategy will also take account of the needs of these groups.

The programme of action identifies primary and supporting initiatives for the short (one to two years), medium (three to five years) and longer term (six to 10 years and beyond) under each area of action.Primary initiatives reflect the areas Government wishes to emphasise in the short to medium term, and will provide a base from which the supporting initiatives can be implemented.

Changing market dynamics will mean that the prominence given to individual areas and initiatives will vary over the life of the Strategy.The programme of action is flexible, and will be reviewed periodically by Government to reassess and redirect resources in response to market changes and household needs.Assessment of the relative effectiveness of different interventions will be important, and can be expected to alter the mix of initiatives as the Strategy is implemented.

Such reviews will aim to ensure that shifts in emphasis over the Strategy?s 10 year life build on the progress made under each area, while responding to emerging opportunities and constraints.

Measuring Progress

Housing New Zealand Corporation will co-ordinate progress reporting against the programme of action, including information from other agencies on the initiatives they lead.

Current (2005) public reporting of housing indicators is limited to two indicators in the Social Report published by the Ministry of Social Development: housing crowding and housing affordability.More indicators are required to report against the seven areas covered in the Strategy.Housing New Zealand Corporation will work with relevant agencies such as Statistics New Zealand, the Department of Building and Housing and the Ministry of Social Development to develop these, drawing on Statistics New Zealand?s work on indicators under the Housing Statistics Strategy.

The national survey of housing quality under Area 5 (Housing Quality), for example, will provide a basis for systematically reporting changes in the condition of New Zealand?s housing stock.Some individual initiatives will be the subject of separate evaluation and monitoring, and those findings will be published as appropriate.