The Wao Podcast
The Wao Podcast
How to solve a housing crisis, hundreds of homes at a time
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How to solve a housing crisis, hundreds of homes at a time

Hint: it doesn't require foreign investment or huge government debt, and the houses are built better, to last longer, and will cost you less to build, buy and rent!

If you’ve ever spent time worrying about affordable housing, leaky homes, independent living for the elderly, the cost of building, the cost of renting, the barriers to owning a first home and associated topics, you’re not alone. Believe it or not, this interview provides the answer to all of these issues - and more.

Sam Stubbs is the co-founder of Simplicity - one of New Zealand’s fastest growing KiwiSaver plans. What you’re about to hear from Sam is positive and utterly encouraging. Simplicity is a nonprofit Kiwisaver and Fund Manager that gives 15% of all fees to charity and invests with a conscience. What Simplicity is doing under the leadership of Sam and his colleagues, is remarkable.

Simplicity aims to provide 10,000 homes for rent, currently building at a rate of 1,000 homes per year. Their homes are built to last 150 years, using durable materials like brick and concrete, and are priced at $550,000 each.

Simplicity's model is vertically integrated, reducing costs by 30-35% and offering long-term tenancy. They also provide low-cost mortgages, saving borrowers an average of 1% annually.

Buckle in for some answers to the housing crisis!

Time codes and topics

  • 01:37 Introduction to Simplicity

  • 05:13 The problems with the New Zealand housing market, and the opportunity this brings

  • 11:13 The importance of trust

  • 12:35 Focussing on quality housing which will last for 100 years or more

  • 18:00 Vertical integration

  • 23:59 Open sourcing this for others to copy

  • 33:42 The same problem right around the country

  • 36:10 The NZ dream of home ownership

  • 40:57 How this works for retirees

  • 48:19 Applying the vertical integration model to other problems

Useful links

  • Sam Stubbs on LinkedIn - here

  • Simplicity’s website - here

  • Simplicity Living - here

  • “KiwiSaver provider Simplicity to build 264 homes in build-to-rent development in Morningside” - NZ Herald - 7 February 2025 - here

  • “Construction of 300 build-to-rent houses in Remuera set to begin” - Radio New Zealand 28 October 2024 - here

  • “Simplicity completes development with 48 inflation-pegged rentals” Stuff 24 July 2023 - here

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