Media Release
Vic for Mayor

17 September 2016

Mayor’s taskforce and Social Impact Investment Market to lift housing affordability

Auckland mayoral candidate, Vic Crone, says she will establish a Mayor’s Taskforce for Housing and champion New Zealand’s first Social Impact Investment Market to boost housing affordability.

The lack of affordable housing in Auckland is a serious issue. With Council and Government almost maxed out, we need all the help we can get.

Social Impact Investment Market

“In addition to my current housing plan, as Mayor, I will personally champion the creation of New Zealand’s first Social Impact Investment Market (SIIM) for affordable housing in Auckland,” says Ms Crone.

The focus of the SIIM is to link effective affordable housing developers to capital investors, in a trusted marketplace. A recent global survey shows a quarter of the $17bn global SIIM spend is targeted at solving housing issues.

“New Zealand does not have a well established SIIM but we are seeing increasing activity in this space and in 2017, Christchurch will host the Social Enterprise World Forum. So the timing is right,” says Ms Crone.

“Early discussions with these parties have shown an appetite to work together to grow this market. But we are going to need a Mayor and a Council that is truly collaborative, working with the Government, social housing providers, and investors both in New Zealand and globally.”

Mayor’s Taskforce for Housing

Ms Crone says it’s time we brought together housing initiatives across Auckland in a coordinated, constructive forum if we are going to make the progress Auckland needs.

“If I am elected Mayor, I will establish a Mayor's Taskforce for Housing to create synergies, drive action and report on results like consenting. Led by the Mayor, it will include 1-2 Councillors along with representatives from public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.

“We have to move away from the siloed approach, coming together to provide real visibility of the activity and progress we are making.”

ENDS

Vic’s housing policies:
https://vic4mayor.nz/policy/housing/
https://vic4mayor.nz/policy/affordable-housing/

© Scoop Media