I am writing this a few hours after Labour’s big announcement on measures to make houses more affordable. Jacinda naturally led the press conference before handing over to Megan Woods to talk about measures to dampen demand from evil investors. Grant finished off with the handouts to boost supply.
There was no mention of the current supply problem – getting essential building materials into the country or of the boats turned away from Auckland because of a two-week queue to unload at the port.
It is at a crisis point. I raised the issue over a month ago in The BFD, noting the shortage of screws. The MSM caught on the following week, and the government eventually criticised port management, but no real action has taken place.
Sometimes it is the little things that are the problem. I have projects that are unfinished simply because there are no shower trays in the country.
Sometimes it is the big things. We now have a timber shortage.
How is that possible in New Zealand? We are still exporting logs!
The issue is a shortage of chemicals to treat the timber to protect against rot (remember Leaky Buildings)? These are imported, and without them, the mills can’t provide timber to comply with the New Zealand Building Code. No more houses.
The cause is only partly due to Covid. The main issue is a two-year automation program of the container cranes used for unloading ships. A program that hasn’t worked. Meanwhile, the Ports of Auckland used the covid lockdown as an opportunity to get rid of most of their crane operators despite their being classified as essential workers. Short-sighted managers have been hoist by their own petard.
Labour must cop some of the blame – The BFD gave them plenty of warning to sort it out, but their attention has been on the big announcement. They have truly missed the boat.
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