Diocese Addresses Housing Need
New housing currently being built in Taitā
Synod 2022 named Housing as one of three priority areas for our Movement to focus our attention.
Through Bedrock Housing and the wonderful mahi of Wellington City Mission we are responding to the desperate need for quality, warm and dry housing throughout Aotearoa.
Bedrock Housing has more than 20 sites with development potential being explored. They represent approximately 140 new dwellings and 280 new bedrooms.
Four projects have been approved in Taitā, Castlecliff, Tokomaru and Gonville with construction in Taitā expected to be complete by late 2023.
Wellington City Mission’s Whakamaru development has construction in full swing. The completed project, in 2024, will see 30 studio and 5 two-bedroom apartments. Residents will enjoy access to on-site social, physical and spiritual support services under the one roof.
Paul Gilberd is a parishioner at St Peter’s on Willis and Chief Executive of Community Housing Aotearoa.
He encourages our church to question what sort of society we want to live in, and how we can contribute, personally and communally, to be a part of the solutions to our housing crisis.
Paul has provided a community housing snapshot to help us understand the importance of supporting the building of housing for those whom it is most needed.
He writes:
“As of June 2023, there are 24,717 people on the national Housing Register. Every person on that list is eligible for social housing but many are struggling, living in overcrowded or inadequate housing. The fundamental issue is a lack of affordable housing supply.
“Nearly 2,000 people in the Wellington region alone are waiting to receive support so they can enter housing. Housing instability is forecasted to get worse in coming years, as home and rent prices continue to increase significantly faster than wages.”
Community Housing Aotearoa is the representative body for New Zealand’s Community Housing Sector. It provides leadership, advocacy and knowledge sharing to our members. Its 75 member organisations currently house approximately 35,000 people across Aotearoa in 18,520 homes.
Its diverse membership seeks to fill the spaces not addressed by Kāinga Ora and the private market to ensure everyone has access to a warm, dry and affordable home.
“The Loafer’s Lodge tragedy should serve as motivation for continuing to push for positive change and progress,” says Paul.
“I am reminded of the Loafer’s Lodge tragedy that occurred here in our city. The fact that it was on our own doorstep – just a few hundred metres from our national parliament, is all the more tragic. And I’d implore you all to use this tragedy as an impetus to focus, and deliver real, positive change. We owe that to the individuals who passed away. To their loved ones. To the city they called home. And to the millions of New Zealanders who were deeply shocked by this tragedy.”
Perhaps this article has piqued your interest in the housing situation in New Zealand. You may be interested in how housing issues are being addressed by the policies of political parties and how to use your vote for the benefit of others.
To view the policies, we recommend the following site.