NZ Urban Development news from the media | 26 July 2022 | Over 8,000 new homes possible as $179m of infrastructure fund committed

Over 8,000 new homes possible as $179m of infrastructure fund committed

Critical infrastructure projects to enable seven large housing projects around the country will receive a share of almost $179m in funding to enable thousands more homes, Housing Minister Megan Woods announced today.

Rotorua, Ōmokoroa, Kaikōura, Ōtaki, Napier, Gisborne and New Plymouth will all receive a portion of the Government’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund.

The Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) is a contestable fund designed to allocate funding for infrastructure to enable housing development such as transport, three waters or flood management. Administered by Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, the fund of approximately $1 billion was launched by the Government in June 2021, and has received great response from councils, iwi and developers across Aotearoa.

https://kaingaora.govt.nz/news/over-8000-new-homes-possible-as-179m-of-infrastructure-fund-committed/

Increase for KiwiBuild price caps

The Government has announced changes to the KiwiBuild price caps. These changes better reflect the current housing market and aim to increase the delivery of new homes for first home buyers.
The key changes to KiwiBuild settings include:

• Introducing a new income cap category for individual buyers with dependents, with an income cap of $150,000. This is consistent with recent changes to First Home Products and recognises that individual buyers with dependents may need to purchase a larger KiwiBuild home, which requires a higher income to afford.
• Lifting the income cap for multiple buyers from $180,000 to $200,000 to reflect the higher cost of KiwiBuild homes – particularly those with three bedrooms or more
• Allowing exemptions to the price caps for homes that meet accessibility/universal design standards (in addition to those with four or more bedrooms) to encourage the delivery of more of these homes to better cater to larger, potentially intergenerational, families which are more common in Māori and Pacific communities and for those with accessibility needs.
• The changes are expected to also support the residential construction sector, by giving it greater confidence to continue building, including KiwiBuild houses.

https://www.hud.govt.nz/about-us/news/increase-for-kiwibuild-price-caps/

Transformation planned for Auckland city waterfront park

Eke Panuku, Auckland Council’s urban regeneration agency, wants to know what you think about its proposal to upgrade Harbour Bridge Park in Westhaven.

Its planning to transform this popular waterfront destination, west of the harbour bridge, over the next few years to make it a place where more people can enjoy the views across the Waitematā Harbour and spend time with friends and whānau, as well as providing a key walking and cycling connection between Herne Bay and the city centre, connecting through the Westhaven Promenade.

The innovative design will make the most of the location by moving part of Curran Street away from the water’s edge, creating a spacious new waterfront promenade and park. This will make room for new seating, picnic and fishing spots, green space, lighting and improved stormwater treatment through rain gardens. The number of car parks will remain the same.

https://www.ekepanuku.co.nz/westhaven/harbour-bridge-park