Q: Does Housing New Zealand build all its own houses?

A: Not necessarily. We increase our number of properties through build, buy, lease and redevelopment programmes. Where we do build new housing, we may work with contract suppliers like property developers, designers and builders.

Q: Where are the bulk of Housing New Zealand's new property developments?

A: In Auckland, as that area has the highest population growth and the greatest need for housing. Over 50 percent of Housing New Zealand's waiting list is in the greater Auckland region.

Q: Does Housing New Zealand sell properties?

A: Only a very small number of Housing New Zealand properties are sold. These are properties are in areas of low housing demand, or have a high cost to repair, for example if they have been fire damaged. The revenue from these sales is used to provide more suitable accommodation for those in most need.

The state housing portfolio is constantly adapting to improve housing availability in the areas that need housing assistance the most. We also relocate some of our properties so they can be re-used. For example, a house no longer needed in a town may be moved to a rural area as part of our Rural Housing Programme.

Q: How are older state houses kept in good condition?

A: Housing New Zealand has a number of programmes to ensure that its properties are kept in good condition.We have a long term programme to modernise houses built prior to 1980 and a programme to provide energy efficient features to homes built prior to 1978.Energy efficiency work involves installing or improving ceiling insulation, hot water cylinder wraps, under floor insulation and draught stopping, where as modernisation includes updating amenity levels for example kitchens, bathrooms and heating.

Q: How much money does Housing New Zealand spend on maintenance of its homes each year?

A: Overall, we spend over $160 million on maintaining the state housing portfolio, which includes about 66,000 state houses including about 1,500 community group houses, and over $60 million on other property improvements.

Q: How does Housing New Zealand monitor the quality of any maintenance work?

A: Housing New Zealand's Maintenance Contracts require high quality performance from maintenance contractors. The Property Improvement quality team intensively monitors contractor performance. To make sure repairs and maintenance are up to standard, this may involve a visit to check work when finished. Tenants are also encouraged to say so if they're not happy with the quality of the work.

Q: How do you work with communities in areas where you are redeveloping properties?

A: Our Community Renewal programme focuses on property improvement, but it also involves working with communities to make Community Renewal areas better places to live in. The programme runs in six locations throughout New Zealand.This doesn't cover all the other redevelopments done outside project areas. These are mainly in Auckland.