New Zealand Green Building Council
26 October 2017
New Housing Minister Must Deliver Strong Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, Says Green Building Council
Delivering a Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill in 100 days is the first important task on the desk of new Housing Minster
Phil Twyford, says the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) today.
The Bill requires minimum rental home standards for insulation, heating, ventilation and drainage – but the NZGBC warned
that the Bill would not be successful if these standards, which have not yet been set, were not set high enough.
Andrew Eagles, chief executive of the NZGBC, said: “Phil Twyford’s got a big task ahead of him as Housing Minister. New
Zealand homes just aren’t good enough. Our houses are making our children sick.
“The Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill is an excellent opportunity to improve our homes. The important standards of
insulation, heating, ventilation and drainage have not yet been set. We know how important it is to get the balance
right with standards, as we are very experienced in creating such standards for existing buildings and homes.
“If these standards are set too low, it will be a huge missed opportunity. And it’s important too that these strong
standards are balanced by being straightforward to implement.
“A strong Bill would be great news for the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who rent their homes, would also
provide an important way for landlords to ensure their properties are being protected from mould and damp, and would be
a clear message from this new government that they can deliver the healthy, safe, efficient buildings that all New
Zealanders deserve.”
The NZGBC is a non-profit organisation that works to ensure all New Zealanders live, work and play in safe, healthy,
efficient buildings.
/ends