Building science and architectural engineering company Oculus says strong measures by the government are needed now to
improve the health of New Zealand’s homes in the wake of COVID-19.
The company says a new report and recommendations by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) re-opens the
conversation on the issue of cold, damp homes and their impact on respiratory illnesses and viruses, but there is more
that could be done.
The NZGBC report - A Green Recovery recommends improving 120,000 homes to a healthy standard which would in turn provide economic stimulus. There is concern
however, that the figure is too low, when 600,000 Kiwi homes need to be made healthier, Oculus says. Director Shawn
McIsaac says New Zealand houses are well below other countries when it comes to combating cold and damp, and keeping
humidity at acceptable levels.
“If we follow the trends of previous years, this year 90,000 people will be admitted to hospital and more than 3,000
people will die, as a result of respiratory illness in New Zealand,” he said.
“Through the response to COVID the Government has shown it cares about our health. This would be an excellent measure to
both improve our health and also provide the investment to restart our economy and give people skills and employment.”
McIsaac said there has been discussion on improving and upgrading the housing stock at large for the better part of
three decades, but 600,000 homes are still without insulation.
“We need a bold response from the government to put an end to our history of cold, mouldy, expensive housing and to
dramatically expand the eligibility criteria for subsidised insulation, heating and ventilation systems to include all
Kiwis because we all deserve a home that is affordable to heat,” he said.
McIsaac said Oculus believes housing is public health care infrastructure, and the first line of defence in keeping
people out of the hospital and in preventing deaths from respiratory illnesses. While the NZGBC proposal focuses on
upgrades that may offer some benefit, they would need to be more rigorous to solve the problem, he said. The Beacon
Pathway approach of 10 years ago outlined the measures required to make our homes warm and dry.
“The upgrade work is a health measure so any beneficial product or service would be eligible for an incentive,” McIsaac
said.
“The benefit to cost ratios are very high, so removing any barriers for homeowners and landlords should be encouraged.
There is room here to look at multiple different delivery pathways”.Shawn McIsaac
Oculus also supports the premise of disclosing the healthy home features of a house, but believes certification or
ratings schemes can be a costly barrier to accomplishing this. A disclosure statement as part of a sale and purchase
agreement, such as is already used in the rental sector, would serve much the same function without having to monitor
and update a scheme or pay fees to a private entity, McIsaac said.
“Overseas experience suggests a certification process would result in higher sales prices and potentially additional
investment. New Zealand has some of the most unaffordable housing in the OECD already”.ABOUT OCULUS
Founded in 2018, Oculus is a New Zealand architectural engineering firm based in Auckland, specialising in building
enclosure design. With a belief that New Zealand can be a world leader in building design, Oculus’s mission is to use
building science to improve the quality of life for New Zealanders, especially in mitigating respiratory illness from
unhealthy living spaces. Oculus’s team of seasoned engineers, architects, drafters, and tradespeople have unparalleled
expertise and knowledge of how to control temperature, mould, noise, fire, air pollution and solar radiation in New
Zealand buildings, offices and homes.