Housing
Real Estate agents concerned over new meth standards
Real estate agents say home buyers and sellers are angry and confused over the new meth contamination levels. The Prime Minister's chief science adviser says there's no evidence of illness arising… Audio
Housing NZ home upgrades faces questions
The government is spending almost $10 million to fix up 66 state houses in the Hutt Valley. Housing New Zealand says it's a pilot programme to find the best way to make its housing warmer and drier… Audio
Accommodation payment boost not enough for private rentals
A benefit aimed at helping people find private rental homes is proving to be a double-edged sword. Emergency housing providers say a boost to the accommodation supplement last month was not enough to… Audio
'Mixed feelings' among Airbnb hosts over tax
Airbnb says its hosts are happy to pay the new tax proposed by Auckland Council - but the hosts themselves say it could force some of them out of the sector. This comes after a Deloitte report showed… Audio
No compensation for meth evictions - Housing NZ
Housing New Zealand and the Housing Minister Phil Twyford say no compensation will be given to tenants who were evicted based on discredited methamphetamine testing. On Tuesday, a report by the Prime… Audio
Housing NZ should apologise for meth evictions - Little
Justice Minister Andrew Little says Housing New Zealand should apologise to tenants it threw out of their homes based on bogus meth testing. The Prime Minister's chief science adviser, Sir Peter… Audio
Auckland Airbnb hosts sound warning on tax
Airbnb says its hosts are happy to pay the new tax proposed by Auckland Council - but the hosts themselves say it could force some of them out of the sector.
Green Party demanding help for meth testing evictees
The Green Party is demanding the government put things right for the victims of what it describes as the country's methamphetamine testing hysteria. Benedict Collins reports. Audio
HNZ contractor says meth repairs waste of time
A Housing New Zealand contractor says she's baffled by how much money HNZ has paid cleaning up the "perceived threat" of methamphetamine, while neglecting "real threats" such as mould. Video, Audio
Paula Bennett: HNZ too cautious on meth testing
National's deputy leader Paula Bennett says if she was still a minister she would expect HNZ to consider apologising and compensating tenants evicted from their homes due to meth-contamination. Video, Audio
Homeowner's $37,000 meth clean-up deemed unnecessary
The owner of a house where traces of methamphetamine were found says she's devastated to learn she didn't need to go through the stress and the $37,000 expense of getting it decontaminated. Yesterday… Audio
State houses across Auckland
Housing minister Phil Twyford has said he won't support state-sponsored gentrification after residents raised concerned about affordable housing in their area. Audio
Hawke's Bay businesses losing sleep over bed tax
A proposed bed tax on Airbnb rentals is causing sleepless nights in Hawke's Bay. Hawke's Bay Tourism is considering introducing a levy on the 600 homes up for rent on the website, after the regional… Audio
Govt needs expert help with KiwiBuild - Salvation Army
The Salvation Army says the Housing Minister Phil Twyford needs to call in experts if his Kiwibuild scheme is to succeed. It is backing the government's plan to build 100,000 affordable homes over the… Audio
Auckland Budget 'a big step up'
People who rent out homes on platforms such as Airbnb could pay thousands of dollars extra in rates under an Auckland Council budget to be finalised this week. The bill for anyone renting a property… Audio
Goff's 'build-it budget': Rates could rise for online visitor rentals
People who rent out visitor accommodation could pay thousands of dollars in extra rates under a new proposal by Auckland Council.
Rakautara land owners in "limbo" after Kaikoura quake
Several homeowners in Rakautara, north of Kaikoura, have been barred from repairing and occupying their properties due to an unstable cliff. They say they have no idea what to do, and blame the… Video, Audio
Becoming a tradie later in life
The building industry has called out the Government's KiwiBuild scheme, saying there's no capacity to do it. Meanwhile we look at the new trend of older people turning to trades. Audio
Know your boundaries. Do good fences make good neighbours ?
The Government believes good fences make good neighbours. According to the 1978 Fencing Act you have the right to put up a fence (or improve an existing one) and get your neighbour to pay half - even… Audio
British insurers warn against use of aluminium panels
In the wake of the Grenfell fire disaster British insurers are demanding a ban on combustable cladding on high rises - including the kind that is widely used in New Zealand. Aluminium composite… Audio
