Build Aotearoa December 2024

Housing and construction sector news with Sharon Robinson and Glenn Harley.


1. Kāinga Ora Cancels Tauranga Housing Expansion

  • Headline: 37,000 planned homes on Tauranga’s edge, intended for development by Kāinga Ora, have been cancelled.
  • Why it matters: This move affects future housing supply in a region grappling with a housing shortage.
  • More details: Read Bernard Hickey’s report on The Kākā.

2. Construction Sector Challenges

  • Feature: Chris Penk spoke on RNZ about the tough year for the construction sector.
  • Topics: Self-certification, foreign products and insulation.
  • Listen here: Rough year for construction on RNZ.

3. Overheating in Townhouses

  • Headline: Reports of townhouses overheating, prompting calls for better design and building standards to mitigate the issue.
  • Context: Insulation doesn’t cause overheating.
  • Read the full story: 1News report on overheating townhouses.

4. Emissions Reduction Plan 2 (ERP2)

  • Focus: The latest ERP does include a section on building and construction.
  • Expert Commentary: Elrond Burrell discusses its potential impacts on housing and urban development.
  • Read more: LinkedIn insights by Elrond Burrell.

5. H1 Building Code Consultation

  • Topic: Ongoing consultation on insulation requirements.
  • Expert Voice: Jason Quinn shares his perspective on what’s next for energy efficiency in construction.
  • Learn more: Jason Quinn’s LinkedIn post.

6. High Performer Building Visit

  • Discussion: Reflections on our visit to High Performer Building, exploring sustainable and high-performance building technologies.

7. Stories of Innovation and Community