Chris Bishop
National List MP based in Hutt South
Media statement
4 July 2017
Bishop delighted by massive boost for Hutt housing
National List MP based in Hutt South Chris Bishop today joined Social Housing Minister Amy Adams for the announcement of
more than 700 new and refurbished houses in the Hutt Valley.
“This is outstanding news for the Hutt Valley and something I’ve been pushing for as the local List MP based in the
area,” Chris Bishop said.
“The Hutt has been growing strongly under National, particularly in the last 18 months, and it’s important that housing
supply keeps up with demand.
“Housing New Zealand owns 3800 social houses in the Hutt – but many are the wrong size and some are in need of
refurbishment. Today’s announcement means more building more houses and bringing hundreds of others up to modern
standards.”
Details of the development include:
• Building 30 new social houses on four sites in Lower Hutt, with work starting immediately, at a cost of $9.5 million
• Commencing master planning for up to 300 further homes across four sites in Epuni, Naenae and Waiwhetu
• Refurbishing 383 existing homes to make them warm and dry, and bring them up to standard, at a cost of $67.3 million.
“I’m particularly pleased to see that houses will be built on the empty Housing New Zealand sections in the Hutt. This
is a topic that regularly gets raised with me by Hutt residents. The land is close to schools, community facilities and
public transport – so it makes perfect sense to develop the land,” Mr Bishop said.
Work will begin right away at four initial sites, with the first new homes to be completed by mid-2018. Master planning
is underway at the four sites in Epuni, Naenae and Waiwhetu to develop three hectares of land into up to 300 new houses.
These new builds will be a mix of social, affordable and market homes.
“The significant investment in refurbishment is also very welcome news. Housing New Zealand’s Hutt Valley stock is
amongst the oldest in its portfolio across the country,” Mr Bishop said.
The largest single refurbishment project will be the Jackson Street flats in Petone. $10.3 million will be spent
remediating and refurbishing 48 units across four buildings to bring the complex up to modern standards. This work will
start early next year.
“Today is a great day for the Hutt Valley. The announcement means more housing for our vulnerable people, more homes for
first-home buyers, and urban regeneration in many different areas of the Hutt Valley,” Mr Bishop said.
ENDS