Community Development joins House of the Year

Media Release
February 4, 2004

Community Development joins prestigious House of the Year Awards

Housing built to meet a community or social need will form a new judging category in the Registered Master Builders 2004 House of the Year Awards, with Housing New Zealand Corporation becoming a sponsor.

“The Housing New Zealand Community Development Award will recognise the very best in housing developments that fulfill a community need, demonstrating quality homes can be built to meet the needs of the whole community,” says Registered Master Builders Federation Chief Executive, Chris Preston.

“The Registered Master Builders Federation and Housing New Zealand Corporation are committed to high quality, sustainable housing and are proud to work together to celebrate excellence in the sector.”

The award is open to community residential developments, built to meet the needs of the community and/or the not for profit sector. Entries will include, but are not limited to, Government (central and local) housing developments, church owned residential properties, retirement villages targeting mid to lower income individuals and families, and those developments built by not for profit organisations to meet a community or social need.

Judges will consider workmanship, design and functionality.

Housing New Zealand Corporation Chief Executive Helen Fulcher says the award provides an opportunity to encourage and promote the construction of affordable, good quality housing.

“There is growing demand for affordable housing, particularly in areas of high demand like Auckland. Over the next four years the Corporation is acquiring about 3,000 homes of which about 900 will be new constructions. It also has initiatives to encourage not-for-profit organisations and local government to provide affordable housing.

“Whilst affordability is important, the quality of construction is of equal importance. This award allows us to recognise and promote that fact.”

The Corporation owns and manages about 64,000 properties and has a key role in promoting good building practices and fostering the construction of quality affordable housing.

The Registered Master Builders 2004 House of the Year is structured on two levels – local and national. Gold, Silver or Bronze Awards are determined in 20 local competitions around New Zealand using a points-based system, with one overall winner awarded in each category. All local Gold Award winners progress to the national competition where they are judged by a national panel to determine national category winners and the 2004 Supreme Award. National winners are announced at a gala event in Auckland on 25 September.

ENDS

The Registered Master Builders Federation

- There are currently 1650 registered master builder member companies throughout New Zealand, building about 60% of residential and over 90% of commercial properties in New Zealand.

- The Registered Master Builders Federation has been in existence for over 100 hundred years providing industry leadership, training and customer services.
There are 22 Registered Master Builder Associations around New Zealand.

- Registered master builders are assessed on their building experience, trade or professional qualifications and practical experience. Re-certification of members occurs regularly, with checks on financial viability and workmanship.

- When engaging a registered master builder for a new home or for alterations and additions work, whether built under a full contract or a labour only contract, a Master Build 7-Year Guarantee covering loss of deposit, non-completion of the work, defective workmanship and defective materials, will be offered by the registered master builder (conditions apply).

- In the past 12 plus years, Master Build Services has provided over 47,000 Master Build Guarantees (39,433 on new homes and 7,571on alterations to homes).

Housing New Zealand Corporation

- Housing New Zealand Corporation is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord.

- The Corporation owns and manages about 64,000 properties and has a key role in promoting good building practices and fostering the construction of quality affordable housing.

- Housing New Zealand Corporation supports and encourages the construction of good quality housing and is proud to sponsor the new Community Development category in the Registered Master Builders Federation 2004 House of the Year Awards.

- The Housing New Zealand Community Development Award promotes quality housing built to meet a community and social need. For example, housing built for central or local government and/or not-for-profit organisations.

- The Corporation has 43 Neighbourhood Units throughout New Zealand providing a range of services including rental housing for people on low incomes and rental homes for organisations offering accommodation within the community, such as emergency housing providers. It helps people with physical disabilities into modified homes and offers a variety of initiatives to help people buy their own home. There are also initiatives to encourage local government and not-for-profit organisations to provide affordable quality housing.

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