New Zealand housing strategy

The Government is committed to ensuring those on low and modest incomes or with special housing needs receive the help they need to find and stay in affordable, good-quality housing. The Government's housing strategy sets out the priorities for housing and a programme of action over 10 years. It covers sustainable housing supply, assistance and affordability, homeownership, the private rental sector, housing quality, sector capability and meeting diverse needs.

The Department is part of the steering group overseeing the strategy.

We contribute to the Government's strategy and help to make housing more affordable by streamlining the building design and consent processes. In addition, we have been working with others, including the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Housing New Zealand Corporation, Ministry for the Environment and Land Information New Zealand, on a comprehensive programme dealing with the broader issues of housing affordability.

Housing quality - improving the quality of New Zealand's housing stock. The Department is continuing to review the Building Code with input from consumers, the building industry and local government.

Sector capability - the Department is working with local government to implement the building consent authority accreditation provisions of the Building Act 2004. Building consent authority accreditation and a national licensing system for the building industry are part of a package of changes introduced by the Building Act 2004 to encourage better practices in building and construction. The Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme will contribute to lifting and recognising the professional standards and skills of building practitioners.