MEDIA RELEASE
July 18 2008
Waitakere hosts symposium on affordable housing
Waitakere is hosting a major affordable housing symposium on Tuesday, July 22 featuring government ministers and a range
of noted academics and social housing professionals from New Zealand and Australia as speakers.
The Minister for Housing, the Hon Maryan Street, and the Minister for Building and Housing, the Hon Shane Jones, will be
joined by the National Party’s spokesman Phil Heatley and the Green Party’s Sue Bradford at the Rental Affordability
Symposium at the Kelston Community Centre.
Large numbers are expected to attend given it is election year.
The symposium is being organised by the Australasian Housing Institute in conjunction with Waitakere City Council and
Community Housing Aotearoa to examine what is happening in relation to rental affordability and secure tenure and the
issues for renters.
The politicians and presenters will provide their insights and ideas about what to do to address this growing concern.
“Decent, affordable and secure housing is at the heart of a civilised, inclusive society and a globally competitive
economy,” says Therese Quinlivian, Director of Community Housing Aotearoa and one of the conference organisers.
“It is also potentially the biggest policy challenge emerging for the housing industry in New Zealand. This symposium
will explore the challenges and identify the potential solutions.”
There is a top line-up of international and local speakers. Adam Farrar the Executive Director of the New South Wales
Federation of Housing Associations will give a presentation on the Australian National Affordable Housing Forum, a
project bringing together participants from the housing, development and finance sectors, as well as from unions,
community groups, local councils and academic experts to stimulate informal discussion about principal goals and
priorities for a National Affordable Housing Agreement.
Other speakers include Kaye Saville Smith, Andrew King and David Zussman who will present findings on the current state
of the rental market, rental affordability and its impacts on families and children. Scott Figenshow and Tricia Austin
will also provide information on the latest international models of Secure Tenancy that could be applicable here.
ENDS
Editor’s Note: The symposium runs from 8.45am to 5pm and media representatives are welcome to attend. A full programme
is available on www.housinginstitute.org.