Queen of Property sees social housing as a moral obligation
Today’s Budget announcement about social housing doesn’t go far enough to helping ordinary New Zealanders, says Queen of
Property Nicolette Connors.
“Our government has a moral obligation to solve the issue of social housing and from what I can see, the Budget does
little to achieve this end. Where is the strategic thinking and planning around creating long-term social housing
solutions?” said Connors.
Connors would like to see a radical rethink around policy making for New Zealand’s social housing dilemma, and believes
that new initiatives are needed to make them happen. “Building low-cost houses is an expensive exercise and the
potential for disenfranchising New Zealanders by putting them in ‘little boxes’ is not the way forward,” said Connors.
Instead, Connors would like to see the government getting behind the creation of inclusive community villages – similar
to retirement villages – where New Zealanders in need could not only have their housing needs met, but also be supported
in other areas of their lives, such as health and education.
“Isolating New Zealanders (many of them solo parents) in individual homes is isolating, expensive and
counter-productive. Why not work with the commercial sector to create modern and affordable community developments, with
wrap-around services to enhance the health, education and wellbeing of Kiwis. And then have private investors purchase
them with government support through guaranteed rental agreements?”
Connors is aligned with Habitat for Humanity, a not-for-profit Christian organisation that works in partnership with
people of goodwill and families in housing need, to eliminate sub-standard housing by building, renovating and selling
simple, decent houses on an affordable basis.
Through her work with ‘mum and dad’ investors at Propellor Property Investments, Connors helps ordinary New Zealanders
to get ahead. Propellor has no allegiance to any real estate developer or builder offering property for sale, and does
not on-sell properties.
Nicolette Connors is a registered Financial Advisor and Senior Property Strategist & Principal of Propellor Property Investments. A commentator within the property investment industry, Connors has been a
guest speaker alongside the ANZ’s Chief Economist Cameron Bagrie at various seminars. She has been interviewed numerous
times by the NZ Herald, Sunday Star Times and TV One Breakfast, and is a regular commentator on TV3 Paul Henry’s panel. For more: http://www.propellorproperties.co.nz/.