Interim Social Housing Unit Director Appointed
Hon Phil
Heatley
Minister for
Housing
29 August 2011 Media
Statement
Interim Social Housing
Unit Director Appointed
Housing Minister Phil Heatley has welcomed the appointment of interim Social Housing Unit (SHU) Director, Michael Pead.
"The establishment of the SHU and Michael’s appointment is an important step towards implementing Government’s aim of achieving a significant increase in the volume of social, niche and affordable housing delivered by the third sector," says Mr Heatley.
Earlier this year we announced that $40 had been set aside to help the third sector grow the volume of social housing.
"The role of the SHU, currently a semi-autonomous unit within the Department of Building and Housing, will be to administer that funding and to actively work with third sector providers to explore and develop opportunities to increase the social and affordable housing pool," says Mr Heatley.
"The Community Housing sector has repeatedly told us and have demonstrated that they are ready, willing and able to step up to provide social and affordable housing at volume. The role of the SHU is to assist the sector with this aim, providing funding, land and if appropriate surplus Housing New Zealand stock, to enable them to leverage the greatest volume of housing possible," says Mr Heatley.
Mr Pead will take the role until a permanent Director is appointed.
Mr Heatley also announced the appointment of a new four-person panel to monitor the progress of social housing reforms.
Chaired by Brian Donnelly, the Ministerial Advisory Panel (MAP) will advise Ministers on how well the reforms are progressing, the results being achieved, and any major issues that arise.
"We have a very important programme of change underway in social housing, the role of the MAP is to ensure Ministers know exactly how the SHU and social housing reforms are progressing," says Mr Heatley.
The Panel members are:
• Brian Donnelly, Chair
• Andrew
Body
• Rau Hoskins
• Lisa Woolley
"The Panel members all have significant expertise in the sector, which equips them well for this work. The MAP will not be involved in the day-to-day management of the SHU or in grant decisions but will instead provide Ministers directly with independent advice on the direction and progress of reforms. This will avoid any conflict of interest issues," Minister Heatley says.
ENDS
Biographies:
Michael Pead
Michael has an extensive commercial background which includes senior management and consultancy experience, in both the private and public sector. He is also a chartered accountant. Michael will lead the Social Housing Unit until the permanent Director is appointed.
Brian Donnelly
Brian Donnelly is the
Executive Director of the NZ Housing Foundation. Brian is a
trustee of the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust
(QLCHT), a member of the Social Entrepreneur Fellowship, the
Chair of the Wilson Home Trust, and a member of
Auckland’s Social Policy Forum. He is also a Director of
Bridon Group Ltd – a small property consultancy practice
and was a member of the Housing Shareholders Advisory
Group.
Andrew Body
Andrew Body is a
Director of Crown Fibre Holdings Limited. He was a
shareholder and Director of FR Partners until 2001.
He
has 20 years experience as investment banker & private
banker focussing on mergers and acquisitions and capital
raising.
He will contribute experience in business and
particularly the property sector. Andrew was a member of the
Housing Shareholder Advisory Group.
Rau
Hoskins
Rau Hoskins (Ngāti Wai, and Ngāti Hau)
is a director of the Design TRIBE architectural practice
specialising in kaupapa Maori design. Rau has lectured in
Maori architecture at the Auckland and UNITEC School’s of
Architecture since 1990 and currently co-heads Te Hononga -
The Centre for Maori Architecture and Appropriate
Technologies at Unitec. Rau wrote the Maori Housing design
guide in 2002, convened the inaugural hui of Maori design
professionals in 2006 and was an elected delegate of the
National Maori Housing Conference in 2010. He is a founding
board member of the Centre for Housing Research Aotearoa New
Zealand, a member of the Council for Community Housing
Aotearoa, and the Acting Chair of Te Matapihi National
Housing Advocacy Group. Rau holds a Masters in Architecture
degree from the University of Auckland.
Lisa
Woolley
Lisa is the Chief Executive Officer of
the VisionWest Community Trust in West Auckland, which has
been offering community-based services to people in West
Auckland since the 1980’s. The Trust’s work includes
providing safe, healthy, affordable, quality housing for
low-income families combined with support for other aspects
of the tenants’ lives. Lisa is also a member of the
Council for Community Housing Aotearoa. She has a Graduate
Diploma in Not for Profit Management and is currently
studying towards a Masters in Social
Practice.