HomeBetween Breakfast and Budget
A couple of months of reflection since the Property Council NZs breakfast with our Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has given me some time to watch the water under the bridge flow through to the recent Budget, and the announcements of the reset of Kainga Ora Board.
Suffice it to say, this ‘observation’ time is comparable to allowing the dye to soak into the chalk (remember Colgate and Mrs. Marsh?). Harking back to the PM’s breakfast talk was a chance to gauge the current profundity and atmosphere as the new government continues with its changes in directing the economy and driving growth. This April talk was instrumental in providing a depth marker, as we all stay resilient against the swirling waters of uncertainty. It all sounded uplifting and imminently doable at the time, considering that to get there would be a significant fiscal tightening. Internally in Wingates, our Housing sector is still busy while we are keeping a close eye on the funding taps shutting off and the backstop of Kiwi-Build scuttled for a future reset.
Our team’s ongoing focus is on both masterplanning and design of Architecture incorporating town centers and ‘wrap’ around services to activate new Residential developments saving on inefficient planning of usage of cars to get from A to B. Recent master planning of ten super lots for Tamaki Regeneration Ltd was a wonderful opportunity to see the preparatory work of community engagement imbued into each TRL project. This teamed with KO’s pull together of civil, surveying and mapping of existing sub-soil assets and the undergrounding of existing overhead electrical wires sets the scene for a vastly improved urban experience for road, pedestrian ways, and landscape, which is the visible and tangible effect giving the desired betterment to a living environment.
The pursuit of wellness through good design is hugely beneficial, giving residents pride of place, through making spaces better. It’s the effect on young and old, providing more positivity from home to work and school. Our work is always to provide each site with a focus, and where possible where a green heart and when presented a green link from street to street providing pedestrians with a walkable neighborhood/city. Away from social housing providers, we have been assisting developers with small to medium-sized developments, helping to understand yield and return on investment by looking to partner in the early engagement of contractors. Design studies to Consent drawings on individual houses and baches across New Zealand continue, with a heartening improvement in a reduction of prices of both materials and labour, corrected from COVID impact fueled years of escalation.
As the economy looks to recover, we await the prospect of interest rates dropping, and affordability of development again enabling our industry to re-ignite. We are anticipating the opportunities to deliver ‘people-centric’ master planning and are keen for meaningful discussions to broaden a development/suburb’s approach to the enjoyed experience of walking.
The Wingates team is passionate about providing design that places buildings into both a physical and cultural landscape, delivering on the human aspect of amenity and resilience as well as a bulwark against the ever-changing forces of nature that impact our existing and developing towns and cities. Thinking back to that breakfast morning under a clouded sky, much like the economy, it has undoubtedly been a tough market for many since. However, our belief is ever present that sunnier times are just around the corner and that developing optimism will show a better way to deliver on the needs of our communities. For now, we look forward to continuing our conversations with our current and future clients and partners who also share this goal. The current environment is a beneficial time for looking at design services, and getting a project underway, no matter the type and scale. Our team welcomes enquiries, from initial feasibilities to concept design to help establish your project's possibilities.