Media Statement
29 May 2008
Housing New Zealand releases list of past Property Improvement Conferences
Housing New Zealand today published details of conferences held by its Property Improvement Team since 2002.
“Conferences by the Property Improvement Team have been an annual event for six of the past seven years. They have been
held to ensure the Team, which is scattered around the country, works effectively together to deliver hundreds of
millions of dollars of improvements to state homes each year,” chief executive Dr Lesley McTurk said.
“Typically, these conferences have been held in the central North Island because doing so reduces the travel costs of
staff attending the conference. For example, in the case of the recent conference at Tongariro Lodge, about 75 per cent
of the staff attending were able to drive. The majority also shared twin rooms, a feature of other conferences.
“However, I accept that some of these venues can be perceived badly by the public. I have already initiated a review of
staff development, which will include the use of staff conferences as a tool for training. This follows a new operating
model I have introduced to Housing New Zealand, since joining the organisation last year.
“The staff development review will also compile as comprehensive a picture as possible of the number and cost of
conferences across the organisation over the past decade, information which is not readily accessible at present. This
information will be reviewed in the context of Housing New Zealand’s $900m business, and our public sector
accountabilities.
“My intention is to make public information about any other past conferences at the conclusion of the review.”
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Table attached.
Housing New Zealand Corporation
Property Improvement Team conferences
DateVenue
No of days
No of nights accomm-
odationNo of staff atten-
ding
Total cost (excl travel) $ 13 – 14 September 2002 Huka Village, Taupo
2
2 67 41,039 20 – 21 October 2003 Hotel Du Vin
2
1 75 36,303 24 – 25 February 2005 Huka Village, Taupo
2
2 89 44,171 21 – 22 February 2006 Blue Baths, Rotorua
2
1 91 37,916 15 -16 February 2007 Huka Village, Taupo
2
2 98 41,114 8- 9 May 2008 Tongariro Lodge
2
2 94 52,731
ENDS