The day after budget day and I’ll be honest, it didn’t make for pleasant reading. Instead of cracking on with awesome pollution-busting, cost-saving measures like energy efficiency and the expanded Warmer Kiwi Homes Programme, our government has scaled back climate initiatives and failed to fund any new ones.
Read our full take on Budget 2024 here.
While hugely disappointing, it’s not entirely surprising. Earlier this month at our amazing Housing Summit, there was very little noise out of Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. MBIE couldn’t really provide any news on the vital Building for Climate Change programme, saying it was still working through next steps with the new government, and generally there’s been no sound from government as to how we’re going to catch up and meet our carbon targets. But we push on. With thanks to all 300+ who attended the Housing Summit and the invitation from Minister Penk for an in person briefing from our keynote Rob Pannell, we know there’s interest, appetite and a drive for change. You’ve asked us to get on with it and we’re working harder than ever.
Fortunately, the disappointment of Budget 2024 is tempered by the high lingering from this month’s Housing Summit where it was abundantly clear that our sector is full of enthusiasm, ambition and leadership when it comes to building awesome sustainable homes and communities. We heard firsthand about the inspiring work being done across the motu, from single homes like the 10 Homestar house built by Nathan Edmondston, through to large scale developments like Oceania Healthcare. We heard from Hamilton City Council on the major environmental focus shaping every part of their massive Peacocke community development targeting Green Star Communities. We had a whole panel showcasing how to cost effectively do the mahi and proving it does stack up financially. Standout for me, was spending time with and hearing from Rob Pannell about how the UK’s Zero Carbon Hub turned the tide and embedded performance and low-carbon solutions into the building code and industry psyche. As he said in his presentation, New Zealand can absolutely do the same, if the Government sets the ambition.
This month we also held the first of our 'Launching into Green Star Buildings NZ' events with a massive turnout both in-person, and online. Thanks to all 200+ who joined to hear more about the latest version of Green Star, and the new resilience and people categories. With attendee numbers looking great for the whole series, it just demonstrates how engaged our sector is in sustainable buildings, in upskilling industry, and delivering for a better built environment. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the full list of events coming up over the next few months.
May has been a total rollercoaster, full of amazing highs and some not so great moments. I believe together we can ensure the path we’re traveling will deliver us to a greener, healthier future.