For immediate release: 14 December 2007
Community Housing Aotearoa Inc. extremely disturbed at short-sighted vision of Auckland City Council
Community Housing Aotearoa Inc. (CHAI) is displeased at Auckland City Council’s significant financial withdrawal from
the affordable housing contract and short-sighted view of its responsibilities towards its local community.
The decision to renegotiate its commitment to the $9m council contract will not only have a negative effect on local
families struggling with housing but will also knock the confidence of community based housing providers wishing to work
in partnership with local councils. “We have been encouraging our members to work in partnership with councils and
developers as it is only with joint partnership initiatives that affordable housing can be addressed. This will
seriously undermine any initiatives in the near future,” says CHAI director Thérèse Quinlivan.
Choosing to cut the council’s funding to less than a third of its initial agreement, down to $2.5m, Auckland City
Council’s actions have shown a complete disregard and lack of understanding towards housing issues, in a city that has
an acute affordability problem, says Ms Quinlivan. “This is such an innovative project showing how well the community
housing sector can be serious players in addressing affordability unless this can be resolved it will be a setback for
the whole housing sector.”
The affordable housing contract has taken three years to develop and incorporates the New Zealand Housing Trust(formerly
New Zealand Housing Foundation), Mc Connell Property Limited and the Council.
Community Housing Aotearoa is keen to see joint ventures develop between local government, the community housing sector
and property developers, and head towards supplying affordable housing to all. CHAI represents the interests of
non-government community housing organisations with over 140 member bodies.
ENDS