Housing Minister Megan Woods recently announced at least $1bn of the $3.8bn Housing Acceleration Fund will be available through the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF). The IAF is a contestable fund administered by Kāinga Ora, designed to allocate funding to infrastructure projects that unlock housing development in the short-to-medium-term, enabling a meaningful contribution to housing outcomes in areas of need. An expression of interest invitation will be available from 30 June, open to territorial authorities, iwi and developers to apply, although we encourage developers to work with the relevant territorial authority in the first instance.

The recently released Climate Commission’s Report says we all have to take urgent action now to address climate change. Lowering emissions is already a focus for Kāinga Ora. We’re constantly looking to collaborate with our development and build partners in environmentally sustainable technologies, processes and products.

We’re building new houses and retrofitting our older housing stock to create warm, dry, energy efficient homes. We committed to delivering all new state homes to a minimum 6 Homestar rating in 2019 and we’ve had two Auckland developments certified for a 7 Homestar rating. Other potential projects on the horizon aim to achieve even higher ratings. We’re also making strong commitments to diversion to landfill targets in our developments. This all helps make a difference.

The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, is developing a 30-year Infrastructure Strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand. The commission wants your feedback on things New Zealand can do to improve its infrastructure system. Submissions close 2 July 2021.

Keep in touch and sign your colleagues up to receive the bulletin by emailing updates@kaingaora.govt.nz.

Message from our land development, construction, commercial and urban planning leaders​

Iwi partnership brings homes and social outcomes

Kāinga Ora has teamed up with iwi-owned property development company K3, to increase housing supply while growing K3’s capacity, training and employment opportunities in development and construction. The long-term partnership is kicking off with K3 building Kāinga Ora homes in Maraenui, Napier, using local resources and training their apprentices through the builds. K3 has MBIE funding for up to 50 apprentices, with a number of women already in their apprenticeship programme.

Land development opportunities

Three upcoming land release opportunities will be available in Q3. Superlot releases in the Waikōwhai and Roskill South neighbourhoods of Roskill Development will open early in Q3 with Lakeside Te Kauwhata available later in the quarter.

Revised Conditions of Contract for Consultancy Services (CCCS)

Kāinga Ora has updated the format of its Conditions of Contract for Consultancy Services (CCCS).  This follows robust and constructive negotiations with key industry organisations such as Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects and the Association of Consulting and Engineering New Zealand. We are grateful to these groups for their expert input, collaborative approach and hard work that went into this revision.

We have committed to the industry to review the new form of contract in three months’ time. Please get in touch with any feedback on what works and what doesn’t via cccsfeedback@kaingaora.govt.nz

Deconstruction and broader outcomes

The Kāinga Ora deconstruction pilot programme has seen approximately 90% of building materials reused and recycled at Elm St and Highbury Triangle deconstruction projects in Auckland’s Avondale. This ensures the bulk of materials were put to good use rather than being sent to landfill.

Our deconstruction partner TROW Group (the contractor at both sites) also took the opportunity to promote Māori and Pasifika entrepreneurship via a pop up maketi (market) and sent containers of reusable materials from both sites to Tonga to help rebuild school, churches and housing in cyclone prone areas.

TROW Group is a member of Amotai, which aims to increase supplier diversity by connecting organisations to Pasifika and Māori businesses.

Partnerships and people key drivers for Regional Director

Kāinga Ora Otago Southland Regional Director Tim Blake has a strong affinity with what it means to have a place to call home.

As the youngest of five children with a solo mum, Tim grew up in a state home.

“I am so very grateful for this support, and through my role at Kāinga Ora, I want to give back to the system that supported me and my family over so many years.”

Alongside this inspiring driver, Tim brings more than 10-years construction experience, and a business development and management background in diverse sectors including banking, petroleum, ports and shipping and professional rugby.

His vision for housing in Otago and Southland is bold – but Tim loves a challenge.

“With the second oldest housing assets within the wider Kāinga Ora portfolio, my focus is to ensure that by 2030, assets and the future housing pipeline in the region are in line with demand, fit for purpose and configured to meet our customers’ needs, ensuring a solid platform for great community outcomes.”

And he’s already seeing many opportunities to build solid iwi and community partnerships.

“We’ve had such a great response from stakeholders to our place-based structure, and with 11 territorial authorities and nine rūnanga in the region, there are a lot of stakeholders! Local Councils have welcomed our closer liaison and we’re making really positive progress towards securing additional properties in many areas.”

He’s also part of a regional cross Government agency governance group focusing on key issues facing our communities.

“In time, this group will introduce initiatives to gain much need traction in areas like employment skills and training, education, mental health, alcohol and drug use and addiction, and of course, housing.”  

After moving to Dunedin for the role, five months in, Tim is enjoying playing a part in giving others a place to call home.

“What I enjoy is the strong collective feeling of service - belonging to such a focus and committed work family - and the scope and breadth of what we are here to deliver at Kāinga Ora.”

Otago Southland Regional Director Tim Blake. Tim is one of 12 Regional Directors leading our regional teams as part of our place based structure.

Cook Brothers embrace social housing project

Cook Brothers Construction has always had a strong focus on community. So taking on the complex remediation of a 1960s social housing block in Dunedin was a good fit for the locally-founded company.

The 26 units in the Kāinga Ora Maitland Street two-tower apartment buildings are being brought up to 6 Homestar standards, including high-quality insulation and double-glazing, new bathrooms and kitchens. One building is being done at a time, with the rear block completed earlier this year. Residents in the 12 front units (along with two new tenants) then moved into the newly completed block, and work began on stage two.

As always when working with existing buildings, unexpected challenges come up, says Blair McGill, Cook Brothers Regional Manager to the Otago Region. Working with project managers Logic Group, the Cook Brothers team have taken this in their stride, reprogramming the project where needed and finding ways to mitigate cost and time implications.

Blair says these projects bring a huge amount of personal satisfaction and reward for the team.

“We really just want to do right by our communities. A big part of our own culture is built around the satisfaction we take in creating spaces for people to live, work, learn and thrive. Social housing epitomises that.”

“It is clear that for Kāinga Ora, these works are all about their customers. They care for their people. From early consultation, through to regular updates and shared celebration at the handover of the first stage, it was always all about the tenants and their new warmer, safer environment.”

Cook Brothers Site Manager Steve Jory said he enjoyed seeing first-hand how residents responded to having their homes transformed into great places to live.

“It’s really meaningful seeing them move into their nice new warm, dry homes. At the handover, we all enjoyed sharing their excitement about their new digs.”

Cook Brothers Construction Site Manager Steve Jory outside the first completed Maitland Street apartment block.