As a result of the Kāinga Ora public housing review, 371 projects (as of July) around the country are under further review as to their viability and continuation.

Some of those ‘at risk’ projects are in Hastings and Napier.

In Hastings, three projects involving 8 potential homes have been identified as under review – Willowpark Rd (3), Gordon Rd (4), Wavell St (1). The Willowpark homes have been built as part of a skills training programme at Hastings Boys High, at a cost of $1.2m and are already on site … what’s to review?

Hastings has commissioned over 400 housing units in various formats in the last 3-4 years, over 100 in this financial year, working with a range of partners like Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga. As BayBuzz reported in February here, overall 414 homes have been built, another 208 are under construction, and 509 are going through the consenting process. Importantly, of the homes built, more than 350 are social housing, affordable rentals, affordable first homes or papakāinga.

Considering that record, an HDC spokesperson noted that this Kāinga Ora review will have “negligible effect”.

The impact in Napier is greater. There, 10 projects involving potentially 97 homes – Barker Rd (1), Bedford Rd/Lowry Tce (7), Bledisloe Rd (28, two locations), Constable Cres (12), Lister/Geddis (30), Lowry Tce (6), Norrie Pl (2), Rutherford Rd (1), Seddon Cres (10). A total of $4.5m has been spent already across these projects.

Napier Councillor and housing advocate Maxine Boag says about 200 – 250 Kāinga Ora homes have been built or are being built in Napier, “which is great, but Napier sits very high number on the Social Housing register, hence the high need here that Kāinga Ora is or was committed to meet.”

She notes that Napier did not have the place-based funding boost HDC has enjoyed, working in partnership with Māori providers in particular. Nor did it have papakāinga land like Hastings to develop.

Says Councillor Boag, “It is very disappointing to me to have the coalition government stopping so many much-needed homes being built. Sure, a lot of money has been spent on building homes, but they are valuable assets which are owned by the state.   As well, the social cost of having people living in sheds, tents, in overcrowded homes is enormous.

She adds, “What’s interesting when you look at the Social Housing Register, at the breakdown of what types of homes are most needed nationwide. It’s not the 2-3 beddies we’re most short of, half those on the register want one bedrooms. I think that reflects the single men in particular who find it very hard to get affordable rentals. With the closure of emergency housing in the motels, many of them can be seen living on our streets.”

“I think Kāinga Ora has done an amazing job building warm, dry homes for the neediest members of our community.  I’m just sorry they have not been able to finish what they set out to do.” 

The Government plans to contract out new public housing builds to private builders and housing nonprofits. with Housing Minister Chris Bishop has said Kāinga Ora should return to being a “good landlord” as opposed to a home builder. Hence this further review of unbudgeted or under-construction projects.