HOUSING CRISIS: Unfinished homes as severe building supply shortages stall construction

PHOTO: New Zealand has a new housing crisis.

According to STUFF work is grinding to a standstill on some construction sites and jobs could be at risk as home builders battle a fast-growing shortage of materials.

Record housing construction, powered by demand for real estate and compounded by Covid, is putting increasing pressure on supplies and prices nationwide of timber, steel, board products, roofing materials, paint, and even nails.

Smaller builders awaiting materials say hundreds of orders are being cancelled, and suppliers are prioritising major clients.

John Hamilton, Master Builders’ Canterbury president, said the crisis was caused by “a perfect storm” and was “not going away soon”.