The government's KiwiBuild programme is underway, but National questions its effectiveness in increasing housing supply
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The first KiwiBuild homes are currently under construction in Papakura, and Minister of Housing and Urban Development Phil Twyford has stated that he is “incredibly proud” that the affordable housing programme has finally gotten underway.
“Without KiwiBuild, this land would be sitting empty today,” says Twyford. “Instead, we are putting up good homes for families to live in.”
18 three and four-bedroom homes are the first houses to be built under the government’s KiwiBuild programme, and are part of the McLennan Development situated on former Defence Force land. Twyford says the houses will soon be open to first homebuyers and will be ready for families in August.
“I have been working with Housing New Zealand since late last year on getting the first KiwiBuild homes built at McLennan,” Twyford continues. “Housing New Zealand had been unable to get private developers at an affordable price point, so we seized the opportunity to build KiwiBuild homes rather than just watch the grass grow.”
Nonetheless, the New Zealand National Party says the projected 100,000 KiwiBuild homes are not over and above the residential development already happening within the industry. According to National spokesperson Judith Collins, the government initiative will add very little to the overall housing supply.
“New Zealand is in the middle of one of the largest residential building booms in our history- 31,245 houses were consented last year alone,” says Collins. “National left office with MBIE forecasting 200,000 new homes over the next six years, without having to be subsidised by the taxpayer.”
“We welcome any new houses, but for the government to claim the credit those 100,000 need to be over and above what was happening already, and so far they’re not.”
The government is currently working on plans for KiwiBuild homes on more Crown-owned land, and recently announced the purchase of Unitec land for the construction of over 3000 homes.
KiwiBuild aims to deliver 100,000 affordable houses for first homebuyers over the next ten years, starting with 1000 homes over 2018/19 and increasing with the following years.
