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Housing, Housing Affordability, and Housing Supply

By Lizard NewsGreat article from Alan Maxwell with some reflections on better use of existing housing stock. Clearly we need new homes built at scale, with a real focus on those in the affordable range with security of tenure preserved, but as Alan points out we can also encourage ways for existing larger family homes to be available to families once more - and "release" single (often elderly) owner-occupants who would like to downsize but have become economically trapped where they are.Further,...

Immigration is smashing renters

By The Sydney Morning HeraldThis article focuses on the impact of international students on the rental market in Australia - I don't have a particular view on their solution, but it did make me reflect on the impact on the NZ rental market of general immigration now that settings have been loosened again. As we reflect on the last few years it's interesting to note that Covid's closed borders meant that NZ tested so-called "law" of supply and demand in the housing market. We held demand steady (...

Taupō’s rental crisis becoming ‘desperate’ - agent

By The Waikato TimesA recent article on the shortage of rentals in Taupo - driven by the so called "empty rate" of houses that are there but unavailable for normal owner occupancy or rentals as they are either a holiday home left vacant for the owners occasional use or they are part of the AirBnB short term visitor and tourist accommodation market.Elsewhere in the Waikato we see similar outcomes on the Coromandel peninsula as well as in Raglan - all following in the footsteps of Queenstown where...

ASB champions affordable and social housing with innovative Accelerated Housing Fund

By ASBInteresting new initiative announced by ASB -a new funding tool aimed specifically at enabling social and affordable housing projects that otherwise struggle to meet traditional bank lending criteria.  The WHI has long identified funding as one of the three "big rocks" to be shifted to unlock affordability (along with Policy & Regulation and Availability of appropriately zoned and serviced Land) -so this is a helpful initiative from one of NZ's major banks....

Rental prices on the rise as demand outstrips supply

By Waikato Times It's definitely getting tougher for renters!This article highlights the latest figures for Hamilton where rents are rising by $20 per week, demand is also on the rise (by 3%) and number of listings for available listings on Trademe dropped by 21% for the city.And no better for the Waikato region as a whole; here rents rose by $25 per week to now match the city's median average rent of $550 per week, demand rose by 2% and number of listings dropped by 15%.That's a sure recip...

Major changes to Hamilton planning rules on the cards for 2024

By Hamilton City Council"Big shout out to Hamilton City Council who have now also announced their intention to progress with the notification of Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) as an important new lever to promote new retained affordability housing options.  It is a powerful response to the housing affordability crises that has seen median household prices in the city rise to around $750,000 to $800,000 representing a multiple of 7 times the median household income in Hamilton -severely unaffordab...

Push for affordable housing: councils watch on as Waipā sets pace

By Waikato TimesThe pressure’s on councils to help with affordable housing as building demand’s drying up - and one Waikato council is pushing to get cheaper homes included in large-scale developments....

The precise nature of modern covenants

By Stuff NZ'We are talking more and more about Inclusionary Zoning -IZ- but it's rare to hear the opposite term.Yet that is another way to think of the use of covenants: it's a form of exclusionary zoning.  The stated reasons are often about protecting the property value for homeowners in these subdivisions -by specifying types of cladding, roofing materials, minimum dwelling sizes and so on -but has morphed into something must more that seeks to dictate to a much greater extent how residen...

Workers living in cars, the new normal in Queenstown

By Newsroom"It’s not social housing that Queenstown needs, it’s homes for working people and those trying to get on the property ladder" That's the stark reality of the new normal according to Julie Scott who runs the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust. Queenstown is deeper in the housing crises than most parts of our region, a victim of its own stunning scenery and beauty, but parts of the Waikato are not far behind. And that's the focus of the Waikato Housing Initiative - not social ...

Kāinga Maha wins big for housing innovation

By Ahi (Australasian Housing Institute)On a positive note! There are examples of new models of affordable housing starting to happen around the country, and it can be designed to create connected and liveable communities - not just cheaply to meet an immediate need.We haven't yet visited The Residences at Karamu focusing on community housing and first home buyers - but am pretty impressed to see this affordable housing project (with dwellings offered at a 30% discount to median market pricing) b...

Boomerang adults: the young New Zealanders moving back in with their parents

By The Guardian Housing as an election issue will, no matter the outcome, at least bring the topic of affordable housing (or rather, the lack of) front and centre of public debate. As we have noted several times with the other recent articles focused on the housing crises, a "do nothing" approach will not change the path we are on, and an increasing number of our population will be forever excluded from home ownership.The importance for children to choose their parents very carefully a...

Housing affordability unlikely to return to pre-COVID-19 levels - BNZ

By NewshubAnother angle on the same issue of affordability - ultimately drawing the same conclusion that we are back on the same trajectory of worsening housing affordability as the housing market appears to have bottomed out. It's difficult to agree with these forecasts when all the experts and economists line up the same way.... except the all have a core assumption that we all as communities, local and central government, are simply observers. We are not - there are systemic changes that can ...

Affordable rental housing shrinking compared to population rise - research

By Radio New ZealandNew research just published by the Child Poverty Action Group around rental housing stock and costs in Aotearoa puts numbers to support the position already adopted by the WHI; whilst we might be adding more housing stock overall (that's a good thing), affordable housing stock available is actually decreasing. And that's been through a period of modest migration gain - so as we open our borders again, additional pressure will once more come on the available stock, and increas...

Housing affordability 'may be as good as it gets'

By Stuff NZAs good as it gets is not good enough!These comments from CoreLogic today underline the need for interventions that cause a systemic change to the housing continuum. The point is well made that given current drivers of house prices (and this is before a wave of incoming migration hits in full), current settings, rules and regulations will not deliver any different outcomes than we are already seeing.Without intervention, affordability will not be delivered and the housing crises will ...

Help on way for Waikato renters

By Waikato TimesIt is great to see affordable solutions being developed for the rental market. Another initiative from Bridge Housing Charitable Trust which would see affordable rentals in central Hamilton that offer security of tenure at below-median rents....

Reserve Bank rethinks where house prices will go

By Stuff NZA word from CEO Aksel Bech.The comments from the Reserve Bank in today's Stuff article around house prices now having bottomed out with a 9.5% forecast rise by the end of 2025 -and that somehow still being sustainable - had me spluttering my morning coffee back out.House prices are at record levels of un-affordability now -comparing median household incomes to purchase prices or rents see many households throughout the Waikato under severe financial stress with many spending 40 or 50%...

Inclusionary zoning could bring more affordable houses to Waipā

https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/a/nz-news/350046137/inclusionary-zoning-could-bring-more-affordable-houses-waipa?fbclid=IwAR3uf06Me08WI_0rli-mxa-icD6Q88dWuAhfMsNS3ibB-wmcHqayRLwPJ_wBy Waikato TimesCouncil’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee last week accepted a staff recommendation to include inclusionary zoning in the District Plan, jump-starting a formal Plan Change process.The draft set of plan provisions provided by the Waikato Housing Initiative (WHI) was the starting point. Chi...

Waipā leading the way with housing plan

https://www.teawamutu.nz/courier/archive/2023/2023-08-03.pdfBy The Te Awamutu CourierWaipā Council’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee last week accepted a staff recommendation to include inclusionary zoning in the District Plan, jump-starting a formal Plan Change process.The draft set of plan provisions provided by the Waikato Housing Initiative (WHI) was the starting point....

Waipā jump-starts affordable housing change

https://www.cambridgenews.nz/2023/08/waipa-jump-starts-affordable-housing-change/By Cambridge NewsCouncil’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee last week accepted a staff recommendation to include inclusionary zoning in the District Plan, jump-starting a formal Plan Change process.The draft set of plan provisions provided by the Waikato Housing Initiative (WHI) was the starting point....

Housing affordability 'just crazy' - push for cheaper homes in city

https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/a/nz-news/350016899/housing-affordability-just-crazy-push-for-cheaper-homes-in-city...

Business leaders set sights on bringing $400,000 homes to Waikato

Waikato Housing Initiative Co-Chair, Nic Greene was approached by Stuff to lend his expertise to talk on the affordable housing arena.  Along with Simon Perry - Perry Group, Jennifer Palmer - Bridge Trust and Leonard Gardener - Fosters, this article enters into the affordable housing debate.https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-s......

Announcing the new WHI CEO

After a long search, the Waikato Housing Initiative (WHI) is pleased to announce the addition of Aksel Bech to the team as our new Chief Executive Officer. Aksel brings with him a myriad of skills cultivated during his time involved in the corporate and local government sectors. Aksel’s previous position as a Deputy Mayor and Councillor for the Waikato District Council has provided him the opportunity to be involved with the Waikato Plan leadership, which gave birth to the WHI. The work...

Waikato Housing Initiative Update - October 2022

The Waikato Housing Initiative (WHI) is a cross-sectoral group working toward our vision: “Every person and every family in the Waikato region is well-housed*, living in sustainable, flourishing and connected communities”. (*We have included the UN rights to adequate housing entitlements in our definition. ‘Well-housed’ means timely access to habitable, affordable, accessible, culturally appropriate, appropriately located, and with security of tenure housing.’) Charitable Status &...

Hamilton City Council Plan Changes

There have been some interesting articles recently around Hamilton City Council's plan changes.  Please find below links relating to these changes, provided by one of our Waikato Housing Initiative Leadership Group members, Charlotte Muggeridge (Associate at Harkness Henry). Plan Change 9: Heritage: https://www.harknesshenry.co.nz/2022/07/18/how-might-hamilton-city-councils-plan-change-9-affect-your-property/Plan Change 9: SNAs: https://www.harknesshenry.c...

Ngāruawāhia projects provide whānau and community with safe, affordable housing

Whenua at three sites in Ngāruawāhia were blessed and had the sod turned just before Christmas, marking the start of construction for three new papakāinga in Waikato.All three projects have been approved under Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga, a joint initiative between Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry for Housing and Urban Development, that will increase the Māori housing supply across the motu.Read more here.Courtesy of Waikato News...