MEDIA RELEASE

31 October 2013

New Zealand takes out Leading Innovation and Leading Asset Management trophies at Australasian Housing Awards

Housing New Zealand has beaten six Australian social housing organisations to scoop the trophy for leading innovation in social housing provision at the Australasian Housing Institute Awards held last night.

Housing New Zealand also beat five Australian organisations to take out the trophy for Leading Asset Management for work being done to address earthquake prone buildings and move tenants to safer homes.

“Winning two of the six awards categories for our work to improve tenant safety is a fantastic result – especially considering there were more than 73 nominations overall,” says Housing New Zealand Chief Executive Glen Sowry.

"Taking home the innovation trophy for our work to make the driveways of our homes safer for children is particularly pleasing.”

Unfortunately, New Zealand has one of the highest recorded incidences of child driveway death and injury in the world with five children dying each year on average from these injuries.

“We have around 69,000 homes across the county – to be recognised for work we are doing to reduce an alarming national statistic by keeping children safer is very rewarding.”

The programme is focused on separating driveways from play areas by installing fencing with self-closing gates, and reducing vehicle speed on driveways with speed humps and signage.

Housing New Zealand is working with Safekids Aotearoa and other agencies to raise awareness of driveway safety.  

Housing New Zealand’s work to address earthquake prone buildings was also recognised – receiving the Leading Asset Management Award.

“We identified that 268 of our buildings across the country posed a risk in an earthquake.”

“Over 470 tenants living in these buildings have been relocated to safer homes and a huge programme of work is underway to strengthen and refurbish the buildings.”

The first buildings to be strengthened were completed last month, with tenants commenting they felt safer in their new homes.

The Australasian Housing Institute Awards provide an opportunity to showcase social housing success stories. The Awards formally recognise and reward excellence in professional practice, from the grass roots to the most senior levels. They promote to the industry and the community at large the difference that social housing professionals make to people's lives. The awards were held in Adelaide last night.

ENDS 

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