Latest news with #PaulGilberd
RNZ News
01-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Kainga Ora cuts new developments as the housing crisis escalates
In Onehunga, Auckland, the site where a 186-apartment Kainga Ora development was planned now sits empty, after tenants of the previous building moved out and the new project was cancelled. Photo: Sharon Brettkelly New Zealand is short tens of thousands of social houses, and billions of dollars to fund them, while the numbers of "stressed" renters is growing, but a community housing leader says we can still fix the crisis that has dragged on for decades. "I actually believe as New Zealanders if we put our minds to this and we make some different choices we can absolutely solve this housing crisis," says Community Housing Aotearoa chief executive Paul Gilberd. But it will not happen overnight, and as demand grows he warns that overall investment in new social housing is falling. The "magic thing" that unlocks the ability to build the houses at scale is government funding of the community housing sector, he says. "If the government is willing to turn that dial up, we can as a sector walking alongside Kainga Ora, deliver the things that I think New Zealanders want in terms of the vision of the sort of country they live in," he says. Gilberd has worked in the sector for decades and in his current role oversees 100 community housing providers (CHPs) that run more than 30,000 homes. He says Kainga Ora's announcement last month that it has cancelled plans to build nearly 3500 new homes around the country and is capping the numbers of state-owned homes it provides at 78,000 is a reflection of a government that sees itself in a diminished role in commissioning new affordable housing, while backing the CHPs to fill the gap. He is telling his members to find partners such as church groups and local councils to deliver as many affordable homes as they can. The new Community Housing Funding Agency is a step in the right direction to finding the tens of billions of dollars needed to build more than 20,000 extra homes, he says, but it falls short of similar agencies in other countries which have the gold standard full government guarantee. "Then it becomes a gamechanger because it reduces the risk to investors," he says. Jeremy, a neighbour of a cancelled Kainga Ora project in Onehunga, Auckland tells The Detail of the saga of the on/off development that went on for years before the final announcement last month. Jeremy and his wife bought their house in 2018, believing that they would be living next door to architecturally designed, state-owned apartments. "It's been an empty site for over a year now and that peace is lovely for us right now but it's not a long-term solution. The thing that I wonder about is how much of this development next door is now going to be completely piecemeal," he says. For Newsroom Pro managing editor Jonathan Milne, the development on Jordan Avenue is close to his heart, as an Onehunga resident and former local school board member. He says that the tenants who were moved out of the development for the rebuild were promised first dibs on the new apartments. When he tried to track down families who had lived there before it was demolished, they were nowhere to be found. "I spent days trying to find former tenants of Jordan Ave, I couldn't find any. No one knows where they've gone, no one knows their phone numbers anymore, they've just disappeared." He says the dramatic change at Kainga Ora is difficult for the tenants. "In all this discussion we've heard a lot about dollars and hectares and numbers of residences and square metres, but we haven't heard from the voices of the tenants." Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here . You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter .
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Community Housing Aotearoa Says Unlocking Housing Affordability Is A Key To Reducing Homelessness
Press Release – Community Housing Aotearoa Unlocking affordability is a key to providing secure, affordable, long-term rental homes that support people to thrive. It is also a necessary step towards reducing the number of people and children in emergency housing and addressing New Zealands … 'Focussing on community and tenant outcomes is key to ensuring government investment improves lives so we are heartened to hear Hon. Nicola Willis announce the new $190 million Social Investment Fund to support people in need.' said Paul Gilberd, Chief Executive, Community Housing Aotearoa. 'We acknowledge the three groups included in today's announcement and the awhina, support and services they provide to their communities: He Piringa Whare and Te Tihi o Ruahine alliance, AUTISM New Zealand and Ka Puta Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa's Youth Services. We are also encouraged by the Minister of Finance's statement that she wants to see less people in Emergency housing as a key measure of a desired outcome. We believe this can be achieved by providing access to more affordable, adequate rental housing. Unlocking affordability is a key to providing secure, affordable, long-term rental homes that support people to thrive. It is also a necessary step towards reducing the number of people and children in emergency housing and addressing New Zealand's high and rising levels of homelessness. Community housing providers already offer a range of affordable housing options to match community needs. As a sector, we focus on achieving long-term, sustainable outcomes for residents and communities. As such, we're more than a landlord. We have a duty to ensure our homes are managed and protected for the long-term and wider social good and achieve our vision of ensuring all New Zealanders well-housed for generations to come.' About Community Housing Aotearoa Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) is a peak body for the community housing sector. To achieve our vision of 'all New Zealanders well-housed', we have a strategic focus on supporting a responsive housing system underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Right to a Decent Home. Our member organisations provide homes for nearly 30,000 people nationally across 26,000 homes, and our partner members include developers, consultants and local councils. Community Housing Organisations are primarily not for dividend entities that develop, own and/or manage social and affordable housing stock, with a variety of tenure offerings. CHA is a proud Tangata Tiriti organisation and works closely with national Māori housing advocate Te Matapihi, which also represents iwi-based and Māori community housing organisations. We believe all New Zealanders have the right to a decent home. A home that is affordable, secure, habitable, is near schools, transport and services and is culturally adequate.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Community Housing Aotearoa Says Unlocking Housing Affordability Is A Key To Reducing Homelessness
'Focussing on community and tenant outcomes is key to ensuring government investment improves lives so we are heartened to hear Hon. Nicola Willis announce the new $190 million Social Investment Fund to support people in need.' said Paul Gilberd, Chief Executive, Community Housing Aotearoa. 'We acknowledge the three groups included in today's announcement and the awhina, support and services they provide to their communities: He Piringa Whare and Te Tihi o Ruahine alliance, AUTISM New Zealand and Ka Puta Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa's Youth Services. We are also encouraged by the Minister of Finance's statement that she wants to see less people in Emergency housing as a key measure of a desired outcome. We believe this can be achieved by providing access to more affordable, adequate rental housing. Unlocking affordability is a key to providing secure, affordable, long-term rental homes that support people to thrive. It is also a necessary step towards reducing the number of people and children in emergency housing and addressing New Zealand's high and rising levels of homelessness. Community housing providers already offer a range of affordable housing options to match community needs. As a sector, we focus on achieving long-term, sustainable outcomes for residents and communities. As such, we're more than a landlord. We have a duty to ensure our homes are managed and protected for the long-term and wider social good and achieve our vision of ensuring all New Zealanders well-housed for generations to come.' About Community Housing Aotearoa Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) is a peak body for the community housing sector. To achieve our vision of 'all New Zealanders well-housed', we have a strategic focus on supporting a responsive housing system underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Right to a Decent Home. Our member organisations provide homes for nearly 30,000 people nationally across 26,000 homes, and our partner members include developers, consultants and local councils. Community Housing Organisations are primarily not for dividend entities that develop, own and/or manage social and affordable housing stock, with a variety of tenure offerings. CHA is a proud Tangata Tiriti organisation and works closely with national Māori housing advocate Te Matapihi, which also represents iwi-based and Māori community housing organisations. We believe all New Zealanders have the right to a decent home. A home that is affordable, secure, habitable, is near schools, transport and services and is culturally adequate. Community Housing Aotearoa Nga Wharerau o Aotearoa Community Housing Aotearoa is the peak body for New Zealand's community housing sector. Our 110 members build and manage affordable and social housing. Our Vision is to make sure every New Zealander is well-housed in a warm, safe, dry and affordable home. This is a basic human right. We work to support the growth and development of community housing providers to enable them to provide affordable and social housing. We want to demonstrate that community housing is a critical element alongside private and government owned housing. No one can do it alone. Community Housing Aotearoa aims to: be the voice of the community housing sector build capacity and foster collaboration promote best practice in housing policy champion quality and excellence.
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Westpac NZ And Community Housing Aotearoa Announce New Partnership
Press Release – Community Housing Aotearoa Through the three-year partnership, Westpac will support CHA in its mission of delivering affordable housing solutions to communities throughout the country. Westpac NZ and Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) have announced a new partnership to help more Kiwi families into affordable, healthy homes. Through the three-year partnership, Westpac will support CHA in its mission of delivering affordable housing solutions to communities throughout the country. The partnership includes funding the development of the CHA HUB, an online hub that will provide tools, resources and expert insights for CHA's members, helping them to collaborate and ultimately deliver more affordable housing solutions. Community Housing Aotearoa is a peak body for community and social housing providers across New Zealand. It has more than 160 members, including community housing providers (CHPs), social service providers, developers, builders, local councils and researchers, with a shared goal of delivering positive social outcomes by increasing the supply of affordable housing. Paul Gilberd, CEO Community Housing Aotearoa, says the organisation is delighted to be welcoming Westpac as a partner. 'All of our members can benefit from the solutions and expertise Westpac is contributing as part of this partnership. And ultimately, that means all of Aotearoa will benefit,' Mr Gilberd says. 'Getting more Kiwi families into their own homes requires a joined-up approach between community housing providers, lenders, builders, planners and local and central Government. Having an online information hub for our members will help us all work better together to ensure all New Zealanders are well-housed.' Reuben Tucker, Westpac NZ Managing Director Institutional & Business Banking, says it's important to support CHA and bring the sector together to drive greater impact. 'Owning your own home brings a range of financial, social and community wellbeing benefits. Those benefits are being eroded as home ownership rates fall,' Mr Tucker says. 'Community housing providers could help tens of thousands more New Zealanders into their own homes, through innovative and carefully structured solutions using shared equity and leasehold models, but they need support to scale up. 'We've already helped finance more than 700 first home purchases through shared equity and leasehold, but research we published last year showed there are a number of barriers preventing more affordable housing being built.' Mr Tucker says banks need to be part of the solution. 'At Westpac we recently committed to increase lending to the affordable housing sector to at least $1billion by September 2027. So far this financial year we've lent more than $330m to families participating in affordable housing schemes and we're keen to work with Community Housing Aotearoa's members to continue this momentum. 'Collaboration will be critical in bringing additional affordable and social housing to market. We also welcome the Government's recent announcements to support community housing providers to build more social housing in communities across the country.'
Scoop
13-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Westpac NZ And Community Housing Aotearoa Announce New Partnership
Press Release – Community Housing Aotearoa Through the three-year partnership, Westpac will support CHA in its mission of delivering affordable housing solutions to communities throughout the country. Westpac NZ and Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) have announced a new partnership to help more Kiwi families into affordable, healthy homes. Through the three-year partnership, Westpac will support CHA in its mission of delivering affordable housing solutions to communities throughout the country. The partnership includes funding the development of the CHA HUB, an online hub that will provide tools, resources and expert insights for CHA's members, helping them to collaborate and ultimately deliver more affordable housing solutions. Community Housing Aotearoa is a peak body for community and social housing providers across New Zealand. It has more than 160 members, including community housing providers (CHPs), social service providers, developers, builders, local councils and researchers, with a shared goal of delivering positive social outcomes by increasing the supply of affordable housing. Paul Gilberd, CEO Community Housing Aotearoa, says the organisation is delighted to be welcoming Westpac as a partner. 'All of our members can benefit from the solutions and expertise Westpac is contributing as part of this partnership. And ultimately, that means all of Aotearoa will benefit,' Mr Gilberd says. 'Getting more Kiwi families into their own homes requires a joined-up approach between community housing providers, lenders, builders, planners and local and central Government. Having an online information hub for our members will help us all work better together to ensure all New Zealanders are well-housed.' Reuben Tucker, Westpac NZ Managing Director Institutional & Business Banking, says it's important to support CHA and bring the sector together to drive greater impact. 'Owning your own home brings a range of financial, social and community wellbeing benefits. Those benefits are being eroded as home ownership rates fall,' Mr Tucker says. 'Community housing providers could help tens of thousands more New Zealanders into their own homes, through innovative and carefully structured solutions using shared equity and leasehold models, but they need support to scale up. 'We've already helped finance more than 700 first home purchases through shared equity and leasehold, but research we published last year showed there are a number of barriers preventing more affordable housing being built.' Mr Tucker says banks need to be part of the solution. 'At Westpac we recently committed to increase lending to the affordable housing sector to at least $1billion by September 2027. So far this financial year we've lent more than $330m to families participating in affordable housing schemes and we're keen to work with Community Housing Aotearoa's members to continue this momentum. 'Collaboration will be critical in bringing additional affordable and social housing to market. We also welcome the Government's recent announcements to support community housing providers to build more social housing in communities across the country.'
