Now it’s time for us all to deliver. It’s time for change. It’s time for those of us who want Kiwis to live in warm, dry homes to do more than talk. It’s time to act.
2018 is shaping up as the year of the home – and it is offering all of us who want New Zealanders to live in warm, dry, healthy buildings a once in a generation opportunity. It’s home time, and we must seize this chance now, or we risk failing our tamariki.
The Government’s commitment to KiwiBuild and their rhetoric around improving health and wellbeing, a swiftly building momentum amongst the industry, and a loud, far-reaching national conversation bemoaning the state of our homes and the damage they are doing to New Zealanders’ health are the trifecta of forces that have created a huge chance for us to make our homes better.
Right now, the move to build homes fit for New Zealanders is backed by a powerful combination of political will, industry will and the will of the people. That’s a three-pronged attack on our poor housing with more potential than Southee, Boult and Wagner.
But there’s a key difference between these two New Zealand attacks. Southee, Boult and Wagner do more than talk: they deliver, with pace, focus and teamwork.
Now it’s time for us all to deliver. It’s time for change. It’s time for those of us who want Kiwis to live in warm, dry homes to do more than talk. It’s time to act.
That’s the key theme of the important Housing Summit we’re hosting in Auckland on 20 June.
We’ve all sat in conferences that are all hammer and no nails. And while we sit around in large meeting rooms, our homes still aren’t good enough, and haven’t been for years.
We know how to build warm, dry homes for our whānau. We know that the time for talk is over, and now’s the time for action. And action starts at the New Zealand Green Building Council Housing Summit 2018.
That action is bigger than each of us, and each of our respective organisations. To be successful, we need to focus on housing quality, but also on master planning, the quantity of homes built, realising the right finances, and regulating new products.
The Summit has a great line up of exciting, inspiring and diverse national and international speakers – all of whom will focus on making our homes better, from a variety of different angles, around and over the wicket.
Leading economists, politicians, international media commentators, research experts, sustainability innovators, and influential industry insiders will be leading inspirational conversations. For anyone who wants our homes to be better, who wants to realise the potential of a great New Zealand attack, the Housing Summit is a must-attend event.
The Government’s political will for new homes was evident recently in the Budget. The funding allocated to KiwiBuild, and the ramping up of new Housing New Zealand homes are welcome and a step up in ambition compared to the previous Government. The Budget lacked, however, a clear commitment that all KiwiBuild homes will be warm, healthy and dry.
I was in the Budget lockup, alongside the country’s top political journalists and analysts, and was able to get the details directly from the Finance Minister before he stood up in Parliament to announce the Government’s intentions to the nation. This gave me the opportunity to provide commentary and analysis on the Budget to you, our valued members. I do hope you found this useful. You can see our full response to the Budget here.
Thank you for all you do to make our buildings better, for all New Zealanders. If you have any suggestions or questions, do please come and see me at the Housing Summit.
Ngā mihi o te tau hou
Andrew