A new report by Prefab New Zealand and BRANZ says $40,000 can be shaved off the price of a new home using a prefabricated method of construction, and build time can be reduced 60 percent, which results in lower financing costs. Noting the urgent need to meet the current housing shortage, stuff.co.nz informs MHProNews traditional methods of site-built homes are unable to meet the demand. Labour housing spokesman Phil Twyford says his party’s Kiwibuild plan to construct 100,000 modular homes in ten years is the solution. He says, “ We can grow companies who have the size and capability to move to a more manufactured style of building. The Germans and Scandinavians are doing it. It is time for New Zealand home construction to embrace prefabrication and offsite manufacturing in the way we build our houses.” ##

(Photo credit: Jackie Meiring/archdaily.com–New Zealand modular home)