Extract

The New Zealand population is growing fast. In 2017 it was 4,776,500 and has a 90% probability of increasing to 5.30–7.88 million by 2068. This raises the need for more houses that can be built easily, cheaply and fast and be aligned with the contemporary needs of the growing population. This paper focuses on prefabrication as a method of construction that can help the New Zealand housing industry to meet this growing need for more houses. This paper is part of a larger study investigating the use of prefabricated Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as a potential solution to the shortage of housing in New Zealand. This paper reviews 182 manufacturers of prefabricated buildings and components throughout New Zealand to achieve a better understanding of the services they offer, product innovations, and limitations. All data is culled from manufacturers’ websites. An initial analysis reveals that prefabrication in New Zealand is currently focussed on components such as trusses and panels and not on whole buildings. The paper ends by considering what needs to happen if existing manufacturers involved in prefabrication have a role to play in meeting New Zealand’s housing needs.

PDF

Download