Reduce emissions and change an industry at the same time - Kāinga Ora shows what’s possible

Kāinga Ora is on a mission to make its buildings climate friendly now and in the future - and it’s influencing the whole construction sector to do the same.

Dramatically reducing emissions associated with buildings is part of the agency’s participation in the Carbon Neutral Government Programme (CNGP)* which was announced last year. Buildings are a big contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand – both during construction and while people live in them.

As the Government’s urban development agency and housing provider for approximately 190,000 New Zealanders, Kāinga Ora has a strong focus on building healthy homes and sustainable, thriving communities.

The need to reduce building emissions was clear for the organisation – 99 percent of its overall emissions are from constructing new buildings and operating the older ones.

Kāinga Ora Manager Sustainability Strategy Alex Baker says the majority of these emissions are locked in when a home is designed, dictating the construction materials used, the amount of energy occupants will need and the maintenance it needs.  

“Where the building is located and how people can access it matters. For example, if we’re building homes people can only access by car, then they will have no choice but to access them by car, which of course increases emissions,” Alex says.

“Low carbon buildings are also healthier, require less maintenance and are more affordable to live in.” 

The Kāinga Ora Carbon Neutral Housing Programme is accelerating the adoption of low carbon buildings, materials and construction techniques through leading-edge pilot programmes and collaboration with the construction industry. The organisation has made the 6 Homestar standard**, a mandatory requirement for all new public housing, and has recently launched two key projects*** to reduce carbon emissions even further.

“Kāinga Ora is using its huge purchasing power to change the whole industry to a low carbon future,” says Disee Anorpong, Manager of the Carbon Neutral Government Programme.  

By collaborating with the construction industry on these projects and leveraging its huge building portfolio, Kāinga Ora is leading greater adoption of climate friendly construction materials and systems throughout New Zealand. 

Alex maintains the Kāinga Ora approach is all about reducing costs now and in the future. “We have two choices: either we spend 10% more now to build carbon neutral houses fit for the future, or we spend 110% fixing it later.”

*About the Carbon Neutral Government Programme

• The Carbon Neutral Government Programme has been set up to accelerate the decarbonisation of the public sector and highlight the Government’s commitment to leadership on climate change to leave a better future for the next generation.
• Government must lead by example and set the standard all New Zealanders need to achieve to reach our 2050 net-zero emissions target.
• CNGP organisations need to:
  • measure, verify and report emissions annually
  • set gross emissions reductions targets and longer-term reduction plans for the next decade
  • introduce a phased work programme to reduce organisations’ emissions - such as cutting fossil fuel use for heating and vehicle fleets, and improving the energy efficiency of office space - and
  • by December 2025, offset the remaining emissions to achieve carbon neutrality.
• Measurement and reporting are being implemented in a phased manner. The Public Service will report first, followed in stages by some organisations in the State service and wider State sector.
• Find out more about the CNGP. 

**About 6 Homestar as standard in Kāinga Ora homes

• Homestar, run by the New Zealand Green Building Council, is a national residential rating tool to evaluate homes in terms of their warmth, as well as their health, sustainability, energy and water efficiency qualities.
• In 2020, Kāinga Ora actively stepped into the global green building movement by committing all its new homes to be built to 6 Homestar standard; meaning homes will exceed Building Code standards for warmth, dryness and health.
• Two major outcomes of this commitment include annual energy savings for customers of around $570 per household, and a huge 80% reduction in construction waste from every building site.

***Examples of new low emissions housing projects

• The Kāinga Ora Bader Ventura development in Auckland’s Mangere will deliver 18, three-storey homes built to Passive House standard, providing a significantly reduced operational carbon footprint and an 85% reduction in heating and cooling costs for occupants.
• Ngā Kāinga Anamata, another Kāinga Ora sustainability pilot recently announced, takes the Passive House standard even further, building 30 new homes within five, three-level apartment buildings in Auckland’s Glendowie. The project aims to achieve the Government’s proposed 2030 carbon emission targets by 2024, through the use of a range of low-carbon or carbon-reducing systems and materials, while providing key insights back to the industry.

Note: Passive House is an international, verifiable building standard that originated in Germany. It is recognised internationally as a best practice benchmark for low energy use, indoor environmental quality and health performance, especially when applied to social housing. 

Media contacts

Kāinga Ora

Rebecca Huang 021 367 354

Carbon Neutral Government Programme (MfE)

Kate Lancaster 022 069 0389