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And that’s exactly what Christchurch Housing New Zealand tenant Gillian Templeton experienced when Smart Energy Solutions visited her home in February.“They knocked on the door and I thought ‘shoot, someone’s actually early for a change!” Gillian says. “They explained that they’d had a job fall through that morning and asked permission to start work early. I just said ‘yep, go for it!”The team were there to install underfloor insulation at the property and re-position the insulation in the ceiling.But it was their attitude to the job and her 16-year-old daughter, who has Autism and Down syndrome, which really blew the mum-of-two away.“They were extremely polite. I explained that my daughter has very high special needs and was at home; she’d also heard them and wanted to see what was going on.“I introduced her and they all looked at her and talked to her. One of them even used sign language and said good morning to her.”The four staff made such an impression that Gillian took to Facebook to sing their praises.

“…Couldn’t have met a nicer bunch of young lads. Very polite and respectful. Top marks,” she posted.And they went the extra mile too.“They fixed the access door to under the house as well - it had been hanging on one hinge but now it’s shutting properly. And they took care to shut and lock the gate because my daughter is

‘a runner’.”Gillian had to move from her previous Housing New Zealand property after it was extensively damaged in the 2011 earthquake, but loves where her family lives now.

“It’s a well built house and situated so you get lots of sun. My current Tenancy Manager Mechelle, and my previous one, has been great too. I’ve told them we’re not moving from this house…ever!”And as for Smart Energy Solutions?“I’ve never had a bad experience with contractors, but this one was up there as the best.”

Tenant grateful for Smart customer service

“…Couldn’t have met a nicer bunch of young lads.”

TOP MARKS: Christchurch tenant Gillian Templeton was impressed by Smart Energy Solutions.

A Housing New Zealand quarterly update for its head contractors and their subbies

Contractor Connect

Whether you rent or own the home you live in, when something goes wrong you just want it fixed quickly and reliably by contractors that are trustworthy and respectful.

ISSUE 3 - AUTUMN 2016

A couple of blokes, a shed and some ‘number eight wire’ thinking have resulted in the kiwi innovation that takes the strain out of fencing work for contractors.

Prestige Ltd’s Health, Safety and Environment Manager Sergai Davis says the ‘Post Puller’ is a piece of equipment devised and created by himself and colleague Ron Norris.

“We maintain more than 9,000 Housing New Zealand properties and two of the big projects we undertake are the Boundary Fencing and Driveway Safety programmes,” Sergai says. “The nature of that work puts our staff and contractors in daily contact with hazards such as buried, or broken, concrete and wooden fence posts, and the considerable effort it takes to remove and replace them.”

In 2014 Sergai says Prestige had around eight back strain injuries directly attributable to post removal work. Notwithstanding the human cost, the financial impact of those injuries was more than $3,500.

It was also in 2014 that Sergai, who has 15 years health and safety experience, joined Prestige and recognised that with an ageing workforce of men in their 40s to mid-60s, the risk of more back injuries was significant.

It was invention time.

“We’re lucky enough to have a small workshop where we employ Ron, a fitter and turner-come-mechanic-come-panel beater,” explains Sergai. “He has a shed full of old, salvaged parts that he uses to refurbish, recycle or make ‘new’ things from, and a tatty diary full of ‘ideas’ that he carries on him. Ron has an old-school approach and the words I most often hear from him are ‘OK, just let me think about it for a day or two and I’ll have an answer’.”

Together the pair came up with the Post Puller, Mark I.

“The concept was to be able to attach the puller to a post, winch it up vertically to break it free of the soil, and then wheel it out to a trailer with ramps. It had to be light enough for one person to safely and easily manoeuvre, but robust enough for the job.”

The first incarnation comprised an old 500kg winch, a snap lock hook, solid plastic tyres and an old lawn mower handle. It was unveiled in March 2015.

“It lasted about ten weeks before it was broken, but by then the concept had been proven,” Sergai says.

Development of Mark II came next, followed by the more refined, and final, Mark III model.

There are now eight Mark IIIs in operation; one at each Prestige Branch and two sold to subbies. The aim is to have two Post Pullers in each Prestige branch by mid-2016.

“Since the Post Puller’s introduction, we’ve had no recorded injuries during its use and there has been a 75% reduction in back injury exposure risk.”

Equally impressive are the efficiency gains.

“A normal post takes 25-30 minutes for one person to remove but the Post Puller does it in three to five minutes,” Sergai says. “An entire boundary fence can now be removed in less than two hours when it used to take a day or more.”

The Post Puller also pays for itself in a little over two weeks of continual use and all these benefits, along with the high praise garnered from tradies who’ve used it, put Prestige in a strong position to take out their category (SICK New Zealand Best Use of Design/Technology to Eliminate or Minimise a Risk) of the upcoming Workplace Health and Safety Awards in Auckland on May 25.

“It’s great to get an idea ‘up in lights’ and maybe there are others out there that can use this for a similar purpose and reduce the risks to save themselves injury, time and money.”

Good luck Prestige!

Want to learn more about the Post Puller? Sergai is happy to take your queries: safety@prestigeltd.co.nz or 06 879 7956 / 021 229 6639

Prestige makes finals of Workplace Health and Safety Awards

• 2

NO MORE BACK-BREAKING WORK: Prestige Ltd’s Sergai Davis (left) and Ron Norris are the masterminds behind the back-saving Post Puller device.

Head PBMC contractor Prestige Ltd is a finalist in this year’s 2016 New Zealand Workplace Health & Safety Awards after creating a device designed to save contractors backs, time and money.

ISSUE 3 - AUTUMN 2016

This quarter the Star Subbie Award is presented to Auckland’s MTN Kitchens and Maintenance.MTN’s head PBMC contractor is Spencer Henshaw Ltd and Operations Director Tom Lavery says the company is highly deserving of the award.

“MTN are a solid and consistent performer across all of our three regions,” Tom says. “The director, Mike Gani, runs his business very efficiently and we’re always impressed by the order and organisation of the work areas when we visit his premises.”

But Tom says it’s their strong attention to health and safety and the quality and efficiency of their work out on the job that’s most impressive.

“They’ve engaged specialist health and safety assistance and reviewed all their internal processes and the results are obvious to see.

“Fitting a new kitchen in a tenanted property presents a potential health and safety risk, but Mike reviews each site himself before sending his personnel in and the team then work efficiently to minimise downtime for the tenant while also paying careful attention to health and safety…particularly if there are young children or people with special needs at home. When a member of our team has attended to check a new kitchen installation the tenants are always very pleased with the work done and the end result.”

Housing New Zealand’s Maintenance Manager for South and East Auckland, Brian Farrell, says he was delighted to hand the award over to Mike.

“It was inspiring to visit Mike and his team and have the pleasure of presenting them with this award. They are clearly passionate about their trade and have a real commitment to quality products, exceptional customer service and doing the right thing for Housing New Zealand and our tenants. I was truly impressed.”

And MTN were humble in receipt of the gong.

“I’m overjoyed – it’s an achievement that’s brought great pride to the team at MTN,” says Mike Gani. “Winning this award wouldn’t have been possible without the inspiration I receive from all my staff, who I have the deepest respect for. Thank you to Spencer Henshaw and Housing New Zealand for recognising us.”

Since 2012 MTN has grown from a small responsive contractor employing a handful of people to a company that services three Auckland regions and employs 19 staff.

Outstanding job MTN!

Congratulations MTN Kitchens and Maintenance!

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Feedback, suggestions, comments?If you wish to contact us about this newsletter, please email: janine.kendall@hnzc.co.nz

WINNING ATTITUDE: Spencer Henshaw Ltd’s Tom Lavery says the MTN team always has a smile, and is well trained and friendly – ‘nothing ever seems to be too much trouble for them’.

WORTHY RECIPIENT: Housing New Zealand’s Brian Farrell presents the Super Subbie Award to Mike Gani of MTN Kitchens and Maintenance.

ISSUE 3 - AUTUMN 2016

In February, Cyclone Winston caused mass devastation in Fiji. More than 40 people were killed and thousands were left homeless as houses and schools were destroyed. The Category 5 cyclone brought wind gusts up to 325 km/h and waves up to 12 metres high. In response, Housing New Zealand’s Auckland and Wellington head offices held a March 4 fundraiser to gather donations.

Staff were invited to contribute a gold coin and come to work dressed in an island-style shirt or dress on the ‘Bula Shirt Day’. The Wellington office also ran a bake sale.

The activities, the brainchild of Housing New Zealand Principal Planning Advisor Christine Chong, resulted in $1400 being donated to the Red Cross.

Helping our Pacific neighbours after Cyclone WinstonBULA! Staff in Housing New Zealand’s Auckland office raised $400 on the ‘Bula Shirt Day’.

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What you thought of the last Contractor ConnectThanks to those of you who took the time out to provide feedback on the first issue of Contractor Connect. We appreciated hearing your thoughts. If you have anything you’d like to see in the Winter edition, please send us an email.

Thanks again for this; it really does make our staff and contractors feel better about their jobs, I like the bit at the end the best … a couple of compliments for everyone.

Brian Moreland General Manager, Programmed Facility Management

Nice newsletter – very informative!Jackie Pivac Housing New Zealand Regional Manager, Wellington

ISSUE 3 - AUTUMN 2016

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It’s almost a year since Housing New Zealand’s Warm and Dry Programme was introduced and, thanks to the hard work of HNZ and its contractors, tenants living in around 20,000 houses across New Zealand will enjoy a warmer, drier, healthier winter this year. Among them is Josephine Beckham. Few people relish the thought of winter being just around the corner, but Avondale’s Josephine Beckham is all set to embrace the colder months.

The 51-year old’s three-bedroom home has recently been through the Warm and Dry Programme, making it healthier and more comfortable for Josephine and her family.

“I’m so overwhelmed with what’s being done. I can’t believe it – I’m blown away.”

An extractor fan has been installed in the bathroom to remove moisture, a new wall heater has been fitted in the lounge, and window seals have been applied to prevent drafts.

“As soon as the seals went on you could feel the difference straight away,” says Ms Beckham, who shares her home with her daughter and two granddaughters.

Avondale gran rapt with home improvements“I’m stoked because my mokos get asthma and I used to have to use a gas heater with a dehumidifier and shut up the lounge to keep the heat in.”

The house has also been measured up for new carpet and curtains.

“I’m rapt about that,” says house-proud Josephine, who has been battling health issues and recently had surgery. “I’ve been telling the kids they’re going to have to eat outside once the new carpet goes in!” she jokes.

Ms Beckham has lived in her Holly Street home, formerly owned by council, for 25 years.

“I’ve enjoyed living in the area – it’s close to school for the kids and I’ve got such good neighbours,” she says of the fellow Housing New Zealand tenants who have lived alongside her for between two and three decades.

And she believes her new improved home will see her through a number of winters to come.

“I think I’ll die here,” she says. “But I want to enjoy my new carpet first!”

WARMED UP: Josephine Beckham (right), pictured with her Housing New Zealand tenancy manager Evelyn Morgan, is ‘stoked’ by the improvements being made to ensure her home is warm, dry and healthy.

“I’m so overwhelmed with what’s being done. I can’t

believe it – I’m blown away.”

ISSUE 3 - AUTUMN 2016

It’s a quarter of a century since Prestige Ltd was established by husband and wife team Lyndon and Derisa Hakopa. And back then, they were ‘it’.

“We started Prestige about 25 years ago off the back of some sub-contracting work we were doing for Housing New Zealand,” Lyndon says. “I was working as a painter and Derise was a labourer.”

Fast-forward to today and things are vastly different.

The maintenance services company has grown to directly employ around 220 staff and has tradies from more than 108 sub-contracting businesses working for it across multiple trades.

“We have electricians, plumbers, gas fitters…” explains managing director Lyndon. “We employ across the board.”

It’s a complement of staff that means the company is resourced to carry out maintenance and repair work at around 8,000 Housing New Zealand properties, split roughly 50/50 between the Manawatu/Taranaki/Wairarapa region and the East Coast/Hawkes Bay region.

And it’s this volume and certainty of Housing New Zealand work that has allowed the company to expand.

“Having guaranteed work for a set period is a big thing for us. Not a lot of companies have that. We always know with Housing New Zealand work that we’ll be getting paid.”

And Lyndon says the length of the five-year Performance Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC) Housing New Zealand introduced in July 2014 is also a positive for the business.

“We’d previously had three-year contracts but, before those, we were doing year-at-a-time and by about the eighth month you’re starting to cut down on spending.

“With contracts like the PBMC we’re able to keep investing. Our first multi-year contract allowed us to buy, rather than rent, our premises so we could establish some roots in the business.”

And it makes the company attractive to prospective employees and apprentices too.

“The five-year contract gives us enough time to take on new apprentices, put them through their training and have them come out the other end with their qualifications,” Lyndon says. “It’s positive for attracting people to our business and to the industry.”

Currently Prestige, which has offices in Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, Palmerston North and New Plymouth, has around 30 apprentices within the business and across its subcontractors. It hopes to have 60 by the final year of the contract.

“We want as many as we can get so we’re growing our skill base internally,” Lyndon says. “The first year of the PBMC was really about understanding the new contract. But this year will really be our year to grow our numbers.”

From ‘Mr and Mrs’ to more than 500 staff and subbies

• 6

Did you know?Prestige Ltd

Completed around 24,946 work orders across 3,769 Housing New Zealand properties in the 2014/15 year.

100% Is 100% geared to Housing New Zealand work

24k

Employs more than 200 sta� internally, and sub-contracts more than 500 more personnel to carry out work for it across its two Housing New Zealand contract regions500

3500Services more than 3,500 Housing New Zealand properties in Manawatu/Taranaki/ Wairarapa (plus around the same number again for the East Coast/Hawkes Bay region)

ISSUE 3 - AUTUMN 2016

• 7

Housing New Zealand’s year-long initiative to upgrade the smoke alarms in all of its 64,000-plus properties is not only helping save lives, but the planet too.Housing New Zealand’s Chief Operating Officer Paul Commons says the project started in early February and will see around 275,000 existing nine-volt alarms replaced with new, longer-lasting units.

“The new alarms are sealed and have a ten-year, long-life battery which means they need less maintenance and are less prone to tampering,” Mr Commons says. “The technology in these new alarms also means they’re better able to detect both slow-burning and fast-flaming fires, adding to the level of protection they’ll offer our tenants.”

Housing New Zealand has had smoke alarms in all its homes since 1999, with alarms situated in each bedroom, hallway and living area to maximise coverage in each property.

By late April, more than 15,000 houses nationwide - approximately 1200 each week - had been upgraded, with more than 64,750 new alarms installed.

But Mr Commons says the old alarms are being given a new lease on life too.

“We’re recycling as many of the old alarm cases, circuit boards and batteries as possible, plus the packaging from the new alarms, to minimise the waste going to landfill,” he explains.

Even the bags the old alarms are transported in for recycling are themselves made from recycled materials.

It’s an arrangement that’s creating employment too, with the old alarms being broken down into their component parts by staff at Auckland’s North Shore-based Abilities Group, a non-profit organisation that provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Managing Director Peter Fraher says Abilities Group employs around 150 people and has extensive experience and expertise in large scale recycling projects.

Smoke alarm upgrade to save lives, and the planet

TEAM EFFORT: Abilities Group’s Jonathan Hellenberg (right) and colleagues (bottom to top) Phillip Wright, Madhubala Parbhoo and Shona Karora each play a vital role in the disassembly of Housing New Zealand’s old smoke alarms ready for recycling.

DESTINED FOR A NEW LIFE: As many of the smoke alarms’ component parts as possible are being recycled.

“The Housing New Zealand project is a great job for our staff because they gain confidence from performing something familiar and just love to keep doing what they’re good at. We break the alarm disassembly down into lots of small operations that suit a range of capabilities, and that means everyone gets to ‘own’ their particular task.”

And Mr Fraher says his team aren’t deterred by the last wails of the old alarms either.

“They don’t mind the bleeping, which drives everyone else crazy - they just see it as being urgent to locate the offending alarm and stop the noise! They’re really enjoying this job.”

The dismantled parts of the old smoke alarms are bound for several overseas destinations, including Australia (alkaline batteries), Japan (circuit boards), Korea (alkaline batteries) and China (plastic cases) where they will be recycled.

Waste minimisation is a key component of Housing New Zealand’s Environmental Strategy and an attribute the social housing provider also looks for in it suppliers.

“Over the next three years we’ll purchase around half a billion dollars worth of goods and services annually to maintain our portfolio of homes,” says Paul Commons. “It’s a process that has the potential to generate a lot of waste so it’s important for us that there are mechanisms in place to deal with that waste in the right way. The fact that we can create meaningful employment in the process is a real bonus.”

Housing New Zealand has at least 12 suppliers who have recycling programmes in place and, since 2014, all have been required to have an Environmental Management Plan as part of their contract with the social housing provider.

• Supply of new alarms: Ideal Electrical

• Alarm installation: Project Quality Solutions 2003 Ltd (PQS)

• Old alarm recycling: Abilities Group

ISSUE 3 - AUTUMN 2016

• 8

With the Auckland housing shortage and the ongoing rebuild work in Christchurch, finding good, reliable staff in the construction and maintenance sectors can be tough going. This issue, Contractor Connect talks to Group General Manager of Edwards & Hardy Roofing, Tony Thorn, about the unconventional route his company followed to secure a cracking new employee.

CC: With help from New Zealand Red Cross you’ve employed an Afghani trainee roofer who was granted refugee status to settle here about a year ago with his young family. How did that come about?

TT: We were having one of our regular meetings with Matt Fyffe from Housing New Zealand late last year and he mentioned he was going to be meeting with the Hamilton-based Red Cross. They run a programme called Pathways to Employment that helps people from refugee backgrounds plan their employment, training and career goals with the ultimate aim of finding work. Not long after that we met with Red Cross Employment Advisors Monique Wilson and Silvia Dancose to see how we might work together.

CC: So what happened next?

TT: We outlined what we were looking for - it’s quite challenging finding people who want to work in the roofing industry. You need to be physically fit and comfortable working at height. Now that we’re doing re-roofing, we operate three-man teams where the third person doesn’t need the skill-base of some of our other staff, so that third person is someone we can train ourselves. It was that role we wanted to fill. Our main pre-requisite was having someone who really wanted to work.

CC: And Silvia and Monique had the man for the job?

TT: Yes. They’d worked with Ali* for about a year and he immediately sprang to mind for them. He’d been really diligent at doing everything possible to be eligible and ready to work in New Zealand. They felt he was a very capable person who would take the opportunity with both hands.

Contractor Q&A

GREAT RESULT: Edwards & Hardy Roofing Ltd’s Tony Thorn says taking an unorthodox approach to recruiting a trainee roofer paid off.

• New Zealand resettles 750 refugees per year under its quota and New Zealand Red Cross is the primary provider of refugee community resettlement support. Their programme comprises three main initiatives: Pathways to Settlement, Pathways to Employment and Restoring Family Links. The resettlement programme operates in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston, North, Wellington, Nelson and Dunedin.

• Edwards & Hardy Roofing is Housing New Zealand’s head roofing contractor. Established in 1959, the Edwards and Hardy group of companies employs or contracts around 150 staff nationally and carries out work on approximately 15-20,000 roofs each year.

CC: And did he?

TT: Yes. He’s superb. He’s always here early, he works full days and the other guys just love him – they’ve found him really refreshing. He’s so eager to learn and just gets on with the job. He’s been given a chance, he’s taken it and he really wants to work.

CC: And you’re coming to the party with training?

TT: Yes. He did a course to gain his harness certificate in January and there’s a lot of on-the-job training with the other roofers: how to put up scaffolding, screwing, laying rooves, edge protection…

CC: This has been a slightly unorthodox recruitment method, but it’s worked well for you. Would you do it again?

TT: Yes, we’d definitely take this route again. All you want in an employee is someone who appreciates the opportunity and wants to work. Because of their background, people like Ali are uniquely motivated, which is great.

*Name changed to protect privacy

FULFILLING WORK: The New Zealand Red Cross’ Pathways to Employment team from the Waikato office (L-R) Jessica King, Silvia Dancose and Monique Wilson.

ISSUE 3 - AUTUMN 2016

No more ‘marae style’ sleeping for Whangarei familyWARMER WINTER AHEAD: Krishna Boyd is looking forward to a warmer, healthier winter for her boys, including 15-year-old TJ (pictured), and herself.

It’s not just the Warm and Dry Programme that’s making a big impact. The improvements being made to Housing New Zealand homes as part of the Rheumatic Fever Prevention Programme (RFPP) are also changing people’s lives for the better, as Krishna Boyd’s story reveals.

• 9

The temperatures are starting to drop and winter is just around the corner but Krishna Boyd is taking blankets off her family’s beds rather than putting extra ones on.The Whangarei mum-of-five is a Housing New Zealand tenant whose home has recently been through the Rheumatic Fever Prevention Programme.

“We used to all sleep together ‘marae-styles’ in the lounge,” smiles the 35-year-old, who has four of her five boys, aged 7 to 18, living with her. “We’d run the heater for four or five hours before we’d feel comfortable but now it’s so warm we can walk around in our underwear. It’s awesome!”

The Rheumatic Fever Prevention Programme is a joint initiative run by the Ministry of Health, Housing New Zealand and other agencies. It identifies families with children at risk of rheumatic fever, then assesses their houses and makes improvements where needed.

At Krishna Boyd’s home Housing New Zealand has installed thermal quality drapes, replaced carpet in one of the bedrooms, mould-treated the bedrooms and applied draught strips to the front, back and interior doors.

“When the curtains went up we noticed a massive change right off the bat. It was so warm we had to start taking blankets off our beds,” says Ms Boyd, who works part time in retail. “Before, even when it was a sunny day, you would walk into the house and it felt damp – I would go through a roll of a paper towel each

morning drying the windows.”

New security stays on the windows now allow safe ventilation and a kitchen rangehood and bathroom extractor fan are also being installed to help remove excess moisture from the home.

Two of Ms Boyd’s sons, TJ and K-ci, have already had Rheumatic Fever (“they were going to bed early and still waking up exhausted – I just thought they were being typical teenagers”) and live with its ongoing effects, so the impact of the home improvements has been profound.

“If you knew how much I’ve sunk into doctors, prescriptions, ambulances and prescriptions…it was just a constant cycle of illness. Now we’re off the sickness benefit and I don’t need to buy as many drugs – even the chemist has said to me ‘we don’t see you as much anymore’,” says Ms Boyd, who is studying for a double diploma in Business Management at Northtec.

For TJ, who also has a hole in his heart, the improvement in his health has been especially significant.

“He has come right – not a hundred per cent because he still has his allergies and hayfever, but he’s way past the point of being constantly at the doctor,” says Krishna Boyd, who has also invested in a dehumidifier to help further improve the health of the home.

So how is she feeling about heading into winter this year?

“I’m prepared!” she laughs. “The benefits of what’s been done to the house have far outweighed anything I expected – I don’t even need handitowels anymore!”

ISSUE 3 - AUTUMN 2016

Housing New Zealand ramps up meth management efforts

• 10

“We take the health, wellbeing, safety and security of our staff, contractors and tenants very seriously,” says Chief Operating Officer Paul Commons.

“There has been a lot of media attention around P in Housing New Zealand homes. Our team is working hard to beat the rising impact of this harmful drug. This is not only a Housing New Zealand issue, but one that is affecting our entire country.”

Paul adds that Housing New Zealand is working closely with the NZ Police and other government agencies, key stakeholders and communities to identify any properties that may be contaminated.

The organisation is also increasing training for its staff to better detect the use of P in its properties.

“We aim to work more closely with our contractors to better educate and inform them of any risks associated with the decontamination process. As we further sharpen our own focus, we will keep everyone updated,” says Paul.

Paul encourages contractors to be aware of the signs of P in a house, including:

• Brown stains on walls and red or yellow staining on the floors; chemical stains around the kitchen sink, laundry, toilet or storm water drains; oily residue on surfaces

• Unusual chemical smells, blocked drains, missing light bulbs, numerous chemical containers, stained glass equipment and cookware, and cold tablets packaging (in the rubbish or lying around)

• Drug paraphernalia including glass pipes and needles on the property

Contractors can also raise any concerns with Housing New Zealand directly on our CHUR (Core Hours Urgent Response) line 0800 888 455. In addition, you can raise concerns with your local Maintenance Team or call Housing New Zealand’s Customer Services Centre on 0800 801 601. Or, contact the local NZ Police station if you suspect anyone is using this harmful drug in our homes.

New Health and Safety Training coming your way Housing New Zealand is currently updating its incident recording and management system to make it a better fit with new Health and Safety at Work Act requirements.Over the next few months you will receive more information and all PBMC head contractors and health and safety managers will be invited to undertake some training in readiness for the transition from CIR to the NOGGIN system.

A phone based application to encourage faster real time reporting is also on the cards.

Please remember that you need to notify your contract manager of all serious events as soon as possible, and enter them in writing within 24 hours.

Housing New Zealand is ramping up efforts to work more closely with contractors and understand the problems around methamphetamine (P) contamination in its properties across the country.

ISSUE 3 - AUTUMN 2016

A committed effort by Housing New Zealand and its contractors means the Driveway Safety Programme is set to exceed target by the end of June. Improvements are due to be made to nearly 14,000 properties by then, about 1000 more than first forecast.

In the current 2015/16 financial year, Housing New Zealand estimates it will complete driveway safety improvements to 4,197 houses.

The programme, which began in 2013, aims to reduce the risk of children being run over in the driveways of state homes, by installing fencing, self-closing gates with child-resistant latches, speed restriction signs, speed humps and convex mirrors where appropriate.

Housing New Zealand’s Chief Operating Officer Paul Commons says the $30 million programme originally had the target of inspecting and making improvements at 13,000 properties where young children reside.

“What we’ve found is that the interventions we’ve had to make on average are not as extensive or expensive as we had first thought, therefore we’ve been able to complete more of them. As a result, we’re on target to complete more than the 13,000 properties,” Mr Commons says.

According to Ann Weaver, Director of Safekids Aotearoa, a child is put in hospital every two weeks from injuries received by a vehicle in a private driveway, and a further four to five children die each year from those injuries.

Most children injured in driveway incidents are toddlers, aged about two, and their injuries are often severe. Most of these injuries come from children being run over by relatives.

“We support and applaud Housing New Zealand for the work they’re doing to make their driveways safer and help reduce the

risk of children being injured. However, there is still no substitute for careful supervision by caregivers,” Ms Weaver says.

Housing New Zealand provides driveway safety advice for tenants, and has produced a guide for private property owners on how to ensure their own driveways are as safe as possible.

When a family with young children under 5 moves into their Housing New Zealand property, our staff will look to conduct a driveway safety assessment of that property and, if some work is required, it will be included into our driveway safety programme.

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Driveway Safety Programme to exceed target

“We support and applaud Housing New Zealand for the work they’re doing to

make their driveways safer and help reduce the risk of

children being injured.”

ISSUE 3 - AUTUMN 2016

Finishing with a flourish…

• 12

It’s a widely accepted quirk of human nature that people are quick to complain, but slow to compliment. To help reverse this trend, we end every issue of Contractor Connect on a high note. Here’s just a small sampling of the positive feedback received by our Customer Services Centre about work recently done by Housing New Zealand contractors.

Spencer Henshaw

Job: Exterior painting, Northland

Tenant feedback: “Tenant called to say the young painter who attended her property did an unbelievable job – like no other. His skills outshone any other contractor that had attended her property.”

Responsive Maintenance Ltd

Job: Power point not working

Tenant feedback: “Tenant called to say how helpful the contractor was – ‘and a very tidy worker’.”

Programmed Facility Management NZ Ltd

Job: No water pressure in the shower

Tenant feedback: “Tenant called to says the contractor who attended was excellent. He explained everything and showed the tenant what needed to be done – ‘his boss should be very proud of him – he went the extra mile’.”

Prestige Ltd

Job: Slippery front and back (painted) steps

Tenant feedback: “Tenant called to say the contractor attended very promptly and, now that the job is done, she’s no longer worried about having an accident. Well done!”

Switched On Group

Job: Paint patch where wall was repaired

Tenant feedback: “Tenant called to report that the contractor, Brian, did a great job with the painting – he was very respectful and a pleasure to have in the house.”

Spotless Facility Services (NZ) Ltd

Job: Unsecure garage door

Tenant feedback: “Tenant called to compliment Edwin, the contractor who attended to do a temporary fix to the garage door – ‘he was polite and did a good job’.”

Dunedin Housing Maintenance Contractors Ltd

Job: Replace three-point power plug

Tenant feedback: “Tenant very happy with the work that’s taken place and called to give his thanks”.

More next issue!

RAVE: We were chuffed to read this letter in the Rants and Raves section of the NZ Herald on March 31.