Our Strategies

Strategy: Increased support to responsible Ministers on governance and performance of Crown entities and statutory boards

What we will do

We are committed to providing support to responsible Ministers through high-quality monitoring and reporting on the performance of statutory bodies and boards charged with providing building- and housing-related services and functions. This includes evaluating and providing advice on delivering the Government's social housing policies through Housing New Zealand Corporation, and advice on appointments and the performance of other building and housing entities (for example, occupational licensing boards).

Providing social housing effectively and efficiently contributes to improved social outcomes for New Zealanders. Our monitoring of Housing New Zealand Corporation's performance will help to ensure the Government has confidence in the Corporation's performance. We will work with the Housing New Zealand Corporation Board and staff in undertaking this role. We will also support Ministers in meeting their legislative obligations regarding Crown entities and statutory boards.

We will:

• provide advice to responsible Ministers on Housing New Zealand Corporation's key accountability documents
• provide advice to responsible Ministers on the Corporation's operational activities (and statutory boards where appropriate) to ensure the Ministers receive independent advice on any proposals, particularly where they have financial implications
• coordinate Budget processes relating to Vote Housing (in accordance with Treasury budget timelines and processes)
• provide advice to Ministers on Crown appointments to building and housing entities, and monitor the performance of those Crown entities and boards
• work with Housing New Zealand Corporation and statutory boards to ensure the Government's wider context and priorities are taken into account in their decision processes, and assist their knowledge and compliance with government processes.

Why we will do it

Intermediate Outcome

Homes and buildings that meet the changing needs of New Zealanders.

For the building and housing sector to operate well, responsible Ministers need high-quality advice on:

• performance objectives and governance arrangements in Crown-owned and statutory entities
• government funding and budget processes for building and housing.

Statutory appointments and governance
The following Crown appointments are administered and/or monitored by the Department.
- Registered Architects Board (Registered Architects Act 2005)
- Architects Education and Registration Board, Architects Investigation Committee (Architects Act 1963)
- Chartered Professional Engineers Council (Chartered Professional Engineers Act of New Zealand 2002)
- Engineering Associate Registration Board (Engineering Associates Act 1961)
- Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 1976) - from January 2008
- Building Practitioners Board (Building Act 2004)
- Electrical Workers Registration Board (Electricity Act 1992) - from 1 September 2006
- State Housing Appeals Authority (Housing Restructuring Appeals Regulations 2000)
- Weathertight Homes Resolution Service Adjudicators and Mediators (Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act 2002)

The Department also provides support to the following appointments.
- Chief Executive's Building Advisory Panel (Building Act 2004)
- Retirement Villages Disputes Panel (Retirement Villages Act 2003)
Tenancy Tribunal (Residential Tenancies Act 1986)

The Department's role includes:
- providing advice to Ministers that helps ensure people with the right mix of knowledge and expertise are appointed to boards
- monitoring the performance of boards and reporting to the Minister appropriately ensuring output agreements are in place with all boards
- promoting the review of Acts and Regulations when the functions have become limiting for the board, or the operating environment of the board has substantially changed
- ensuring the boards are discharging their regulatory functions effectively. 

How we will do it

We will:

• develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the business of Housing New Zealand Corporation and the sectors within which it operates, and the functions of the statutory boards for which it has responsibility to ensure the Department is at the forefront of monitoring best practice within the state sector
• ensure the Ministers' obligations as responsible Ministers for Crown entities and statutory boards are met
• ensure effective administration of Vote Housing.

What we will deliver

Over the next 3 years we will provide advice to responsible Ministers on:

• Housing New Zealand Corporation's key accountability documents, including the:
  • ministerial letter of expectations
  • Corporation’s Statement of Intent
  • Corporation’s Business Plan
  • Corporation’s 2005/06 Annual Report
  • Corporation’s quarterly reports
  • Corporation’s Output Agreement
  • Review of Financial Governance
• reports that relate to the Corporation's operational activities as a Crown entity to ensure the Minister of Housing receives independent advice on any proposals, particularly where these have financial implications. These reports will include the:
  • Review of Rural Housing Products
  • Review of Lending Products.
• government funding and budget processes in relation to Vote Housing (in accordance with Treasury budget timelines and processes)
• the administration of the Corporation's Income Related Rent (IRR) subsidy
• output agreements and annual reports for other boards or entities, as required by statute
• Crown appointments and statutory board monitoring.

How our outputs link to the strategy

Output Expense	Output
Purchase and Monitoring Advice - Housing New Zealand Corporation	Monitoring and Purchase Advice on Housing New Zealand Corporation
Occupational Licensing	Develop and Implement Building Practitioner Licensing SchemeLicensing of Electrical Workers
Residential Tenancy Services	Tenancy Tribunal AdministrationState Housing Appeals Authority Administration