Hawke's Bay's new state houses to get tenants 'very soon'

Israel Cooper, from Buildtech, Renee Regal, from HNZ, Brad Mason, from Atkin Construction, and Nick Seymour, HNZ regional housing programme director. Photo / Paul Taylor

Half a dozen families can now move in to brand-new homes, following the completion of a state housing development in Napier.

The six-home Russell Rd development is part of Housing New Zealand's regional housing programme to build 235 state houses in Napier and Hastings over the next four years - and Housing New Zealand says it is already planning to boost that number.

HNZ regional housing programme director Nick Seymour said the Russell Rd development comprised three one-bedroom and three two-bedroom houses, all of which were due to be tenanted "very soon, if not already".

"This first tranche is part of the original 155 houses announced by the Housing Minister Phil Twyford, in March 2018.

"That 150 was essentially going to build units in 15 regions across New Zealand, which are now complete."

A total of 49 of those would be built in Hawke's Bay.

"The next tranche, announced in July, is a four-year programme - about 250-odd of which will be in the Hawke's Bay region - and the next tranche is being developed now."

Over the past year, about 50 new state homes had been completed in Hawke's Bay.

"By next year there will be more units completed - between 10 to 15 more units completed over the next seven months."

The houses, a mix of "in-fill" (subdivisions of existing properties) and new-builds, would be built on 38 locations throughout Hawke's Bay.

A Housing NZ spokesman added that HNZ was now in the planning stage to build more new homes for those in need in the region.

"There are 245 applicants on MSD's social housing register for Napier, so there is a growing need for more public housing."