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Regional Project to Tackle Housing Affordability Crisis | 09.07.2007

For release July 9, 2007

Regional Project to Tackle Housing Affordability Crisis

A project set up to tackle the issue of housing affordability in the Nelson-Marlborough area has been launched this week.

Opus International Consultants have been appointed to conduct the year-long Affordable Housing Project, funded by a Housing New Zealand grant.

The project arose out of the study Affordable Housing in Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough commissioned by the Centre for Housing Research Aotearoa New Zealand (CHRANZ) and published last year.

A steering group was set up in response to the study and will oversee the project which will be administered by the Marlborough Regional Development Trust (MRDT) with support of the Nelson Regional Economic Development Agency (EDA).

MRDT Chief Executive Tony Smale says although the decline in housing affordability is a national problem, the situation is complicated in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough by the pressure of accommodation bought about by growth in the regions.

“Distinctive regional issues highlighted in the CHRANZ report require a region-specific solution, which is why the steering group was established and the Affordable Housing Project commissioned.”

“There is good research showing a correlation between health, education and home ownership,” Mr Smale adds.

“The CHRANZ report found that declining levels of housing affordability and home ownership rates in our wider region, combined with ongoing population increases, will place further pressure on housing supply.”

Mr Smale says the purpose of the Affordable Housing Project is to determine what will work in these regions and to plan an implementation strategy.

“Land availability may well be a contributing factor, there are also other factors which play a part, such as the availability of construction workers,” Mr Smale says.

He added it is time to put aside ‘the blame game’, and to focus on a tailored plan-of-action.

“While there are huge social and economic impacts to consider, we can make a difference if we can get people working together on solutions instead of pointing the finger,” Mr Smale says.

“By July 2008 we will have a strategy getting all the stakeholders agreeing to a course of action that is specifically tailored to our regional situation.”

Opus will consult with various stakeholders on housing affordability in order to find the best solutions, then develop a strategy tailored to the wider region. This will then be presented to stakeholders for action.

“Opus has been appointed to pick the eyes out of the CHRANZ recommendations, then formally talk to all stakeholders for their views on it, including the councils, social agencies, the Master Builders Association, and property investors.

“They will also explore new ideas that emerged since the report came out a year ago, such as the Government’s shared equity proposal, and any local ideas.”

ENDS

For further information or the full report by the Centre for Housing Research Aotearoa New Zealand (CHRANZ) please contact:

Murray Jago
Marlborough Regional Development Trust
Spokesman, Affordable Housing Project Steering Group (Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough)
Phone: 03 577 5203
Mobile: 021 650 208
email: murray@mrdt.co.nz