The Government has announced a review of state housing aimed at finding out the most efficient fair way to provide it.Housing Minister Phil Heatley says many houses are in bad shape while others are in the wrong places to meet demand."A review of thi
The Government has announced a review of state housing aimed at finding out the most efficient fair way to provide it.
Housing Minister Phil Heatley says many houses are in bad shape while others are in the wrong places to meet demand.
"A review of this nature is long overdue," he said today.
"The Government has more than $14 billion invested in social housing...the group will look at how this significant asset can be better utilised."
The seven-member Housing Shareholders' Advisory Group is headed by company director and global business consultancy senior partner Alan Jackson.
Mr Heatley said there was huge growth in demand for one- and two-bedroom houses for older people, and four or more bedroom houses for large families.
"Yet we have relatively few houses to meet that demand -- instead we have a surplus of three bedroom houses across the country that suit neither demographic," he said.
"The advisory group will make recommendations on the best and fairest way of providing state housing services to those most in need, in the highest priority areas, for as long as they need it."
The other members of the advisory group are investment banker Andrew Body, property developer Martin Udale, Salvation Army director Campbell Roberts, Auckland City Mission head Diane Robertson, New Zealand Housing Foundation executive director Brian Donnelly and Maori development consultant Paul White.
The group will start work immediately and report by April 30 this year.
