Media Statement

29 May 2008

Housing New Zealand releases list of past Property Improvement Conferences

Housing New Zealand today published details of conferences held by its Property Improvement Team since 2002.

“Conferences by the Property Improvement Team have been an annual event for six of the past seven years. They have been held to ensure the Team, which is scattered around the country, works effectively together to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars of improvements to state homes each year,” chief executive Dr Lesley McTurk said.

“Typically, these conferences have been held in the central North Island because doing so reduces the travel costs of staff attending the conference. For example, in the case of the recent conference at Tongariro Lodge, about 75 per cent of the staff attending were able to drive. The majority also shared twin rooms, a feature of other conferences.

“However, I accept that some of these venues can be perceived badly by the public. I have already initiated a review of staff development, which will include the use of staff conferences as a tool for training. This follows a new operating model I have introduced to Housing New Zealand, since joining the organisation last year.

“The staff development review will also compile as comprehensive a picture as possible of the number and cost of conferences across the organisation over the past decade, information which is not readily accessible at present. This information will be reviewed in the context of Housing New Zealand’s $900m business, and our public sector accountabilities.

“My intention is to make public information about any other past conferences at the conclusion of the review.”

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Table attached.

Housing New Zealand Corporation

Property Improvement Team conferences

ENDS

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