Sleepytown – Are new towns the solution

/0 Comments/in , /by

Sleepyhead, the iconic NZ bed maker is changing ahead with a plan change in Ohinewai, a blink and you miss it dot on the map about 85kms south of Auckland CBD. They are going to set up a new working town. In short, the new town will centre around a manufacturing plant for their beds, with houses for workers and a village making up a brand-new community. The last time a new town was proposed was Rolleston south of Christchurch and before that all the little towns (villages) dotting the Waikato river for the hydro dams and forestry projects in the centre of the north island. And history will tell us, as long as there are plenty of sustaining jobs the town will thrive long after the foundations were put in place.

Read more

The big reset

/0 Comments/in , /by

This article was originally posted in ‘The Hobson” magazine.

We now have a small feel what solitary confinement must be like and why it is used as a punishment. However, I get the sense if the lock down had gone on much longer the family would have built me a kennel for living, sleeping and eating purposes and it would have been outside.

Hastily on the day of lock down I wrote an out of office email that went:

“Well this is different but for the best.  Still shuffling paper, just now at home.  Anything you need let me know.”

Read more

See you in the Spring

/0 Comments/in , /by

The whole world has stopped.  What a difference 2 weeks make.

The Past

Two weeks ago, I wrote an article how property is back and there is optimism everywhere.  That will not be published for a week, but it is too late to change as it has gone to print. Two weeks ago, clients were buying property and planning new houses, bars, doctor’s clinics et al. Two weeks ago, the domestic staff asked if we should stockpile. I laughed and said as long as we have enough, we can get more as the basic supply chains are not affected.

Read more

God Bless you!

/0 Comments/in , /by

This article was originally posted in ‘The Hobson” magazine.

Having had a good break I have been pontificated as to what verbiage to shutter your eye and twig your mind.  Will it be light-hearted and fluffy, or boringly deadly serious?  And the conclusion I came to, reflected on how I feel at this time – ready to take on 2020.   So, let me bore you to sleep, and if I do, my job is done!

Read more

Unitary Plan is working

/0 Comments/in , , /by

If you ask us if the Auckland Unitary Plan is working or not, well our answer to this would be yes, it is working with a passion. We are getting 3 or 4 clients a week who would want to know what potential their property holds or how they can benefit from the Unitary Plan.  These are mainly in the suburbs and mostly on sites 600m2 – 1800m2.

A real live example that recently got approval and is moving to building consent was – 20 James Laurie St, Henderson. The site is zoned Mixed Housing Urban zone (MHU).  As you know this allows typically for up to three storeys in a variety of sizes and forms, including detached dwellings, terrace housing and low-rise apartments.

Read more

Kiwibuild Reset

/0 Comments/in , /by

Kiwibuild 2.0

Thankfully the government has abandoned the unachievable house build target that was becoming a milestone around its neck.  Kiwibuild 2.0 is born.

Even though the government promised it would slash immigration numbers, we are still importing circa 50,000 people per year who need about 17,000 houses.  We can hardly keep up with that demand let along the now broken promise of 100,000 new homes over 10 years from the government.

Read more

Responding to climate change – the tide and time wait for no one

/0 Comments/in , /by

This article was originally posted in ‘The Hobson” magazine.

Climate change at your doorstep

If I mention climate change most of you will just turn the page.  It was first coined “global warming”, led by the hippies and then the United Nations and the Paris agreement which aims to bring all nations together to “undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change.”  We have either become immune or switched off because in reality – the sun comes up, it rains, there are storms and life goes on without much change.  That is until by a slow creep and a change in Government and Council policy if directly affects us.

Read more

My first house – Guest article

/0 Comments/in , /by

When it comes to buying first home, I have big aspirations and dreams. I want a house with garden where I can have a cup of tea and toast sitting on outdoor sofa. A house where my future kids can play freely and get enough space for their activities. A place where I can host parties and don’t have to think twice for inviting 5 or more people to my home. Have a garden where I can plant trees and vegetables. A place where I can be comfortable, watch my family grow, unwind after a busy day at work which I would be able to call as my place of zen.

Read more

Dirty job – We have the man for you

/0 Comments/in , /by

I live next door to a man not given to much excitement.  He is a long time Parnell resident and a senior civil engineer with over 40 years of experience.  He talks stormwater and drains and huffs and puffs when Council do not empty the stormwater catchpits that hug the curbs of our urban roads.

Read more

Viva the Unitary Plan – Bugger off Phil Twyford

/0 Comments/in , /by

You all know the Unitary Plan was transformation and it responded to a real need – a lack of available land and housing supply.  It did this not by the Hamilton method of development – that is sprawl as far as the eye can see but by strategically going up and deleting the density controls in the three main residential zones, thus creating more land or more houses/Ha.

Read more