Nearly 750 public homes have been overhauled since April, at a cost of $251 million, with a further 820 set to undergo renovations this year (file image). Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Hundreds of public homes, some dating back to the first wave of state housing, are being renovated at record numbers.
It is part of Kāinga Ora's massive two year, half-a-billion dollar housing renewal programme, described as one of the biggest housing projects the country has seen.
Nearly 750 public homes have been overhauled since April, at a cost of $251 million, with a further 820 set to undergo renovations this year.
The average cost of completed renovations per home is more than $336,000.
The programme was first trialled in the Upper Hutt area back in 2019 when 69 homes were refurbished.
Kāinga Ora general manager of construction and innovation Patrick Dougherty said the work had grown steadily since then.
"Some of our homes date back to the early days of public housing," he said.
"They have been great homes, but they were designed for a different way of living and are starting to show their age.
"We're breathing new life into those homes to make sure they're not only warm, dry and safe, but work for the way people live both today and well into the future."
The upgrades include new kitchens, bathrooms, insulation and double glazing.
"When the renovations are done, it's like stepping into a new build - the effects can be truly life-changing for the whānau who live in those homes."
Dougherty said the renovation work that Kāinga Ora is doing is on top of the regular maintenance work it does on all its homes.