Construction peak to be higher, last for longer Residential, commercial and infrastructure building activity is forecast to continue to boom for the next three years to a record $42 billion in 2020, according to the independent National Construction Pipeline Report for 2017 released today by Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith. 06-08-2017 more >>
Bill will do little for healthier homes Labour's Bill purporting to make homes healthier would delay the Government's requirements for landlords to insulate their rental homes by three years, Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith says. 26-07-2017 more >>
New meth contamination and testing standard New Zealanders will be able to better manage the risks of methamphetamine in residential properties following the release of a new standard, Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Jacqui Dean say. 29-06-2017 more >>
Cladding rule changes make NZ high-rises safer New Zealand is less exposed to the risks of fire as a result of combustible claddings on high-rise buildings due to these products being restricted earlier this year, Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith says. 16-06-2017 more >>
RMA reform Bill committee stage being debated Parliament will today debate the committee stage of a Bill that is the second phase of the Government’s substantial reforms to the Resource Management Act (RMA), Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says. 04-04-2017 more >>
Minister welcomes first landlord conviction under new law Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith has welcomed the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) Tenancy Compliance and Investigations Team’s first successful prosecution of a landlord for renting a substandard property, under the Government’s tenancy law reform passed last year. 17-03-2017 more >>
More social housing for Auckland A new social housing complex of 120 apartments is to be built on surplus Crown land and an adjoining Housing New Zealand site in Auckland in partnership with local iwi, Ministers Paula Bennett and Nick Smith have announced. 23-11-2016 more >>
Proposal for an Osaki remedy Andrew King reports on the NZPIF has had meetings with Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and outlines all the discussion which is going on behind the scenes. 18-11-2016 more >>
MBIE investigation into building performance A technical investigation into the performance of buildings such as Statistics House at CentrePort will be undertaken to help inform improved building regulation, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says. 17-11-2016 more >>
Housing legislation passes Parliament has today passed housing legislation which will ensure house building momentum continues in Auckland and enable the Special Housing Area (SHA) process to be used in other areas for a further three years, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says 08-09-2016 more >>
Next steps in earthquake-prone building policy Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today released for consultation regulations approved by Cabinet on Monday for the new earthquake-prone building legislation. 02-09-2016 more >>
Auckland Unitary Plan notification welcomed Auckland Council’s notification today of its new Unitary Plan is an historic step in enabling New Zealand’s largest city to better grow and prosper, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith says. 20-08-2016 more >>
Steel mesh testing to be strengthened Consultation on proposed changes to the Building Code to strengthen steel reinforcing mesh testing requirements has opened today, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says. 19-08-2016 more >>
Government raises KiwiSaver HomeStart caps The Government is increasing the income and house price caps of the KiwiSaver HomeStart scheme to ensure it meets its objectives of helping New Zealanders buy their first home, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says. 01-08-2016 more >>
$1b fund to accelerate housing infrastructure The Prime Minister today announced a new $1 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund to accelerate the supply of new housing where it’s needed most, Finance Minister Bill English and Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith say. 03-07-2016 more >>
New policy proposed for urban development The Government’s proposed National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity will require councils to ensure land supply for housing and business keeps pace with growth, Environment, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says. 02-06-2016 more >>
Warmer, safer rental home law passed The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill passed unanimously by Parliament today requiring smoke alarms and insulation in rental properties will save 1000 lives during the next decade, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says 31-05-2016 more >>
Queenstown housing accord gathers pace Progress is being made in tackling Queenstown’s housing shortage, with the second monitoring report showing the local council has more than met its first-year consents target, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says 18-05-2016 more >>
Labour support on city limits welcomed The new position by the Labour opposition calling for an abolition of city limits has been welcomed by Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith. 18-05-2016 more >>
Overloading primary cause of Dunedin balcony collapse An investigation by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment into the collapse of a Castle Street balcony during a music concert on 4 March 2016, which resulted in injury to several students, has found the primary cause was overloading, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith said today in releasing the report. 14-04-2016 more >>
New building info website launched Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith today announced the launch of a new website, www.building.govt.nz, to make information on regulation of New Zealand’s $25 billion a year building industry more accessible. 24-03-2016 more >>
Nine Nelson special housing areas approved The Government has approved nine new Special Housing Areas (SHAs) proposed by the Nelson City Council that will fast-track 417 additional homes, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith announced today. 05-03-2016 more >>
