Industrial Safety News: October 2021 - January 2022

Page 76

October 2021 - January 2022

HOUSING

T

he housing crisis is a human rights crisis in New Zealand according to the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on adequate housing in a new report officially tabled over night at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Housing speculation, a lack of affordable housing options, limited protection for tenants, substandard housing, the absence of an overarching Te Tiriti and human rights based housing strategy, and a lack of adequate social housing or state subsidised housing are the main causes of the crisis according to the report. During a visit to New Zealand from 10 to 19 February 2020, at the invitation of the Government, the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Leilani Farha, investigated housing as a human right in New Zealand. She spoke with government officials, residents, researchers and representatives of civil society organisations in visits to Auckland, Christchurch, Kaitaia and Wellington. The findings of her visit were published in a report tabled at the UN Human Rights Council on June 22 in Geneva. Farha wrote that “legal protection of the right to adequate housing remains relatively weak” in New Zealand. Housing has become a “speculative asset” in New Zealand rather than a “home” wrote the Special Rapporteur — calling attention to on-going housing speculation due to low interest rates coupled with an underdeveloped rental housing system with inadequate tenant protections. Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt has welcomed the report and encouraged local and 76 propertyandbuild.com

UN declares New Zealand’s housing crisis a breach of human rights A United Nations report suggests New Zealand follow in Canada’s footsteps by adopting a human rights approach to housing policy and makes 27 recommendations for Government to address the crisis central government to seriously consider the 27 recommendations made by the UN Special Rapporteur Leilani Farha. 1) Acknowledge housing as a human right Recognize the right to adequate housing, as set out in international human rights law, as an enforceable right in national

legislation and in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. The Canadian model could be an option. This should at minimum include a legal obligation of the State to progressively implement the right to housing and provide suitable and accessible emergency housing to individuals and families at risk or in a situation of homelessness.

A legislated right to housing should render the right justiciable in domestic courts and enable those who have suffered violations access to effective administrative, non-judicial and judicial remedies. 2) Form a human rightsbased housing strategy Develop and implement a comprehensive human


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Kiwi Property kick starts build-to-rent in New Zealand

2min
pages 80-81

Wrong name, right product why build-to-rent is struggling

4min
pages 82-84

Facilities management with personal service

1min
pages 66-67

Where is housing most affordable in New Zealand?

6min
pages 68-69

New Zealand's housing crisis a breach of human rights

9min
pages 72-75

China builds apartment block in a day

1min
page 79

3D-printed housing

6min
pages 76-78

Site Safe Awards finalists announced

1min
page 65

The fight for common sense and a reasoned debate

3min
pages 60-64

Tax changes threaten rental market

4min
pages 70-71

The New Zealand Upgrade Programme cost blowout

10min
pages 56-59

Australian construction industry cries out for reform

4min
pages 44-45

Transmission Gully - what went wrong?

11min
pages 52-55

How scalable data centres help Mainfreight’s vision

2min
page 51

Latest lockdown puts ongoing strain on construction

6min
pages 39-40

In search of the perfect surface - contractor invents new earth compactor

2min
pages 46-47

Multi-purpose, safer, faster telehandlers increase productivity

3min
pages 42-43

AC Filter - an engineered solution protecting worker health

1min
page 41

Immigration policies hindering construction sector

6min
pages 48-50

Is standardised training the way forward?

2min
page 31

Priming your business for post-lockdown recovery

4min
pages 22-23

Surviving as a modern business

4min
pages 26-27

Homebrew 1080 poison hospitalises worker

2min
page 30

Safety app a crucial element in building site safety

2min
page 19

Tips and myths around dogs

2min
pages 20-21

Chemical safety relies on meaningful cooperation

3min
pages 28-29

Radio technology keeps workers safe and compliant

1min
page 18

Unlearning misguided muscle training

6min
pages 16-17

Bastion NZ launch Industrial glove range

1min
pages 10-11

Has your fuel gone off?

7min
pages 4-7

Industry leader in soft fall protection on construction sites

2min
page 15

Remote working putting organisations at risk

2min
page 12

Toxic fumigant banned

3min
pages 8-9

No better investment than chemical safety training

3min
page 3

Critical infrastructure vulnerable to hackers

5min
pages 13-14
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