Extreme makeover awaits old state homes

An extreme makeover and a second chance await two old state homes which are set to be transported from Glen Innes to Waikato’s Spring Hill Prison for refurbishment this month.

Housing New Zealand has worked in partnership with the Spring Hill Corrections Facility since 2008 to transform old and damaged dwellings into new homes for those in need.

Housing New Zealand Asset Development Manager Leonie Freeman says the two Fenchurch Street homes will take the total number of old Tamaki houses sent to the prison to 17.

“It’s an arrangement that helps us to upgrade and retain housing, but also gives prisoners the chance to learn new skills, gain qualifications and prepare for the workforce after leaving prison.”

Around 85 North Island state houses have been sent to Spring Hill since the programme started in 2008, and the idea has also been replicated at Rolleston Prison south-west of Christchurch to help with housing in the Canterbury region.

Trained tradesmen oversee the prisoners who work on the old houses, carrying out tasks such as building, plastering, painting and roofing.

Once refurbished, the two- and four-bedroom Fenchurch Street dwellings will return to Housing New Zealand’s letting pool to house people in need.

And, while protest action has made it unsafe to remove some homes in Tamaki in the past, Ms Freeman hopes that won’t be the case this time around.

“If we can’t remove these homes safely then the only alternative we’re left with is to demolish them where they stand. That’s a huge waste, both for the prisoners and for the families who will ultimately live in the renovated houses.

“In Tamaki, as throughout Auckland, old state houses are being removed so we can better utilise the land for homes that are not only built to modern standard, but are of a size to meet contemporary demand.”

Ms Freeman says the land on which the houses stand is being prepared for Stage 2 of the Fenchurch neighbourhood regeneration.

“It’s a four hectare site which makes it the largest of the five stages of housing redevelopment planned for the area,” Ms Freeman says. “What will appear there when building is complete is between 160 and 180 modern, warm, dry houses.”

Late last month the Minister for Housing New Zealand, Hon Bill English, and the Minister for Building and Housing, Hon Nick Smith visited 11 new homes in nearby Taniwha Street that were built during Stage 1A.

Those homes, ranging from two to four bedrooms, are positioned to make the most of the sun, feature low-energy use appliances and thermal quality curtains, and have achieved the six star level New Zealand Green Building Council Homestar rating.

Ms Freeman says the Stage 2 homes are planned to be a mixture of affordable, social and private housing and infrastructure work will be well underway before the end of the year.

ENDS

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