Community Housing Aotearoa

1. Full Name: Community Housing Aotearoa Incorporated (often branded as Community Housing Aotearoa or CHA). Māori name: Ngā Wharerau o Aotearoa. Initially known by the acronym CHAI (Community Housing Aotearoa Inc.) before rebranding to CHA in 2008.

2. Founded: November 2004 (formally established as an incorporated society). Its creation was supported by a government appropriation of $1.28 million to set up a national community housing advocacy body.

3. Registration & Entity Type: Registered Incorporated Society (Society No. 1583033) under the Incorporated Societies Act. Also a Registered Charity (Charity Reg. No. CC36095), reflecting its non-profit status and social purpose.

4. NZ Business Number (NZBN): 9429043048397 (linked to the society’s registration).

5. NZ Companies Office Records: Listed as Community Housing Aotearoa Incorporated, society number 1583033. Regulatory filings and annual returns are up to date (latest annual return filed August 2024).

6. Registered Office & Address: Level 11, Ranchhod Tower, 39 The Terrace (102–112 Lambton Quay), Wellington 6011, New Zealand. Postal address: PO Box 11543, Wellington 6142.

7. Legal Status: Incorporated Society with charitable status. It operates as a membership-based peak body for community housing providers. Its constitution includes provisions for sector representation, including a designated Māori partner entity (Te Matapihi) for Māori housing advocacy.

8. Governance: Governed by a council (board) elected by member organisations. Co-Chairs of the governing Council are Nic Greene and Hope Simonsen. Key governance roles also include a Treasurer and several council members drawn from the community housing sector. The inaugural chair (2004) was Neville Wilson, a former public servant and Habitat for Humanity manager.

9. Senior Management: Chief Executive Officer (2023): Paul Gilberd (appointed 2022). Past CEOs include Scott Figenshow (2013–2021) and Victoria “Vic” Crockford (2021). A long-standing Deputy CEO, Chris Glaudel (since 2013), handles policy and sector projects.

10. Members: Approximately 110+ member organisations nationwide (as of 2020), including community housing providers (e.g. Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity affiliates, iwi and Māori housing trusts, church and NGO housing services) as Full Members, as well as some associate members (e.g. housing research groups, consultants). At its launch, CHA represented over 130 organisations (churches, non-profits, Māori and Pacific providers, etc.). Membership tiers are based on housing turnover, with larger providers (over $50m turnover) in the top tier.

11. Subsidiaries and Affiliations: CHA wholly owns a taxable subsidiary company, Community Housing Solutions Limited, originally incorporated 2015 as “New Zealand Housing Bonds Ltd”. This entity (Company No. 5766588) is 100% owned by CHA and was used to pursue innovative financing (housing bonds and funding solutions). CHA is also closely affiliated with Te Matapihi – National Māori Housing Advocacy Trust (Te Matapihi has representation on CHA’s council per the constitution change in 2013).

12. Business Activities: Per its own description, CHA’s mission is “to make sure every New Zealander is well-housed in a warm, safe, dry and affordable home”. It functions as a sector voice and advocacy group, engaging in policy development, lobbying, research, and capacity-building for community housing. It does not itself build or manage housing; rather, it supports member organisations that do. Its ANZSIC industry classification is “Business consultant service” – reflecting its role in advising and advocacy rather than direct service delivery.

13. Financial Snapshot: Annual income in recent years has been in the order of NZ$1–1.5 million. Funding comes from government contracts/grants, membership fees, and philanthropic grants. It holds taxpayer-funded contracts with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – e.g. receiving over $1.15 million from HUD in FY2021/22 for services/projects. It has also secured multi-year philanthropic funding (e.g. a 5-year grant from the Peter McKenzie Project, and support from Tū āpapa Rangapū (Tū gear) Foundation). The organisation’s financial accounts are audited annually.

14. Regulatory Compliance: CHA is compliant with required filings (annual returns to Charities Services and the Companies Office). As a registered charity, it is obligated to pursue charitable purposes (relief of poverty by housing) and is barred from private profit distribution. It has publicly championed high ethical standards in housing and transparency, although it operates in a lobbying capacity not covered by any official lobbyist register (since none exists in NZ).

Sources:

1. Community Housing Aotearoa Annual Report 2023, CHA (p.3, “About Community Housing Aotearoa”) – CHA is an incorporated society (est. 2004) and peak body for NZ’s community housing sector.

2. MSD Social Housing Chronology – In 2003/04, $1.28m was appropriated to establish Community Housing Aotearoa Inc. as a national advocacy body representing 130+ housing organisations.

3. Community Housing Aotearoa – Members & Structure, Scoop InfoPages – CHA’s office at Level 11, 39 The Terrace, Wellington; ~110 members as of 2020.

4. “20 Years of CHA (2004–2024)” – CHA website timeline – CHA formed Nov 2004; rebranded from CHAI to CHA in 2008; first chair Neville Wilson (ex-public sector); leadership timeline.

5. BizDB company record – Community Housing Solutions Ltd – wholly owned subsidiary of CHA Incorporated (1,000 shares held by CHA); formerly NZ Housing Bonds Ltd (2015).

6. OIA Response HUD2023-002171 (HUD supplier payments 2021/22) – HUD paid $1,159,583.37 to Community Housing Aotearoa Inc in 2021/22.

7. Community Housing Aotearoa Annual Report 2020, CHA (Entity Information page) – Legal status (Incorporated Society, Reg. No.1583033, Charity CC36095), IRD No., and description of purpose.

8. Council and Staff – CHA website – Profiles of Nic Greene (Habitat CEO, CHA Co-Chair) and Cate Kearney (Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust CEO, CHA Co-Chair).

9. RNZ News – “Public housing: Can companies do the job of charities?” (2023) – Deputy CE Chris Glaudel’s comments on charitable vs for-profit members, indicating CHA has 83 registered housing providers as members.

10. Scoop News – “Community Organisations welcome Green Party support” (4 Aug 2019) – CHA partnering with Salvation Army, Habitat, etc. in KiwiBuy campaign (illustrating CHA’s public advocacy role).

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz