First quake houses are ready

The houses are strongly built, with more stable piles. Photo / Supplied

The first 20 houses for Christchurch earthquake victims will be ready to deliver to sites on Monday.

Jennian Homes, which won the Government contract for emergency housing, is finishing the first 64sq m two-bedroom, relocatable, double-glazed places designed to accommodate a family of four. The project was led by Jennian's mid-Canterbury director Nigel Smith and Canterbury director Bruce Maetzig.

More than 200 businesses tendered for the work, some offering re-birthed steel shipping containers as houses, built in China, shipped out ready to move into, all for about $100,000.

But the Department of Building and Housing wanted to support the local construction sector and settled on a New Zealand business using materials made here. Jennian is Tauranga-headquartered.

Architect Andy Watson, of Christchurch, criticised Jennian's designs for lack of flair, no grey water recycling or solar energy aspects. But Jennian's Nigel Smith said the designs were for durable houses, with a simple iron roof and piles driven into the ground instead of concrete floor slabs.

The department is paying Jennian $90,000 for each house including GST, site works and delivery, said a Jennian spokeswoman. The spokeswoman said once demand was established, construction would continue to supply further homes.

The houses were built by 45 to 55 tradespeople who worked at the big Carter's yard near Christchurch Airport. Local Canterbury labour was used and the workers were keen to get the houses up as fast as possible.

"There were no labour issues as all trades understand the importance of the project. Weather has made the job more challenging, however, once the roof goes on we can control the construction phases easier," she said.

"The homes will be moved on to site using a number of options ... . Depending to the site location and status, it will take one to one-and-a-half days to move a house to the site, but about two days' preparation and two days' site works after delivery."

Private sections and parks are the most likely sites for the first 20 houses.