Improvements made to Kainga Ora homes

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities spent around $1.2 million last financial year to improve its Tairawhiti housing stock.

The money was spent on exterior house painting ($442,000), fencing ($276,000), new roofing ($500,00) and driveway safety improvements ($6000), to its homes.

The improvements are part of a series of planned programmes to benefit customers and support regional businesses.

“This work has seen around 420 households get improvements made to their home, with either the exterior repainted, a brand new roof or boundary fence and where there are young children under five years old, the home got a secure play area as part of our driveway safety programme,” Kāinga Ora maintenance contracting and asset services director Doug Spick said.

“Kāinga Ora began a new national maintenance Te Mahi Ngātahi contract in July, 2020. In addition to the usual contract terms and conditions, it also included a focus on an improved customer experience.

“For customers having their home repainted, a new roof, fence or driveway safety improvements, we've improved our communication frequency with them.

“Our maintenance partners have co-branded vehicles and clothing so customers know it is our people at the door.

“Throughout the job, customers also receive regular updates on progress.

“These improvements we've made are all about our customers — providing them with a great customer experience in addition to the investment in making their homes better.

“It's really important to Kāinga Ora our homes not only meet our customers' needs but our customers are also happy with the way we did the work at their home,” Mr Spick said.

Safekids Aotearoa director Mareta Hunt supported these improvements that made driveways at Kāinga Ora homes safer for whānau with young children.

Ms Hunt said evidence from child driveway-injury research indicated fewer tamariki would be injured in driveways when property and driveway design separates where tamariki might play or walk from areas where vehicles are driven.

“Useful interventions include erecting a gated fence to prevent tamariki accessing the driveway as well as the use of signage and convex mirrors to aid drivers in multi-unit complexes.

“With summer and the traffic light system whānau are spending more time outdoors, so we also encourage all homeowners and tenants to be extra careful around driveways.

“Know where your tamariki are and that they are supervised before you get into your car and remember to always check for kids before you turn the key”.