King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
King Annette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 09 May 2012. Volume:679;Page:2081. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
8. 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Labour—Rongotai) 
 to the  
Minister of Housing 
: Does he stand by all his comments regarding housing? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY (Minister of Housing) 
: 
 Yes as long at they have been taken in context. 
Hon Annette King 
: Does he stand by his answer on 7 March that “Clients are now getting a much better service.”; if so why are people now waiting at least 25 minutes on the 0800 line before a real person answers their call and could it be that Housing New Zealand Corporation is capable of answering only 10000 calls a week not the 20000-plus he claimed in Parliament? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: It is smart to have a number to call and sort out simple issues like “I need my window fixed.” or “How much rent is owed?”. However the transition has not been without its challenges and that is why next Monday a further dozen staff will be employed; the following week another group of staff the following week another group of staff will be employed and the following week another group of staff will be employed. 
Hon Annette King 
: I take from that answer that it is not a better service so have his colleagues particularly those representing Glen Innes and Onehunga raised their growing concerns about the massive increase in Housing New Zealand Corporation problems arriving in their offices since Housing New Zealand Corporation closed its offices and people cannot get through on the 0800 number; and if so what action has he taken? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: No the member can take from that that it is a good service that is getting better week after week after week after week. 
Hon Annette King 
: Why has it taken almost 2 years before Housing New Zealand Corporation has got around to seeking expressions of interest to undertake a minor housing redevelopment programme in Christchurch which will not be completed until 3½ years after the first earthquake and when there is a real housing problem already existing in that city? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: It has taken some time in Christchurch due to the earthquake but Housing New Zealand Corporation has lifted its game. Under the previous Government it took 7 years to do nothing in Hobsonville and 5 years to do nothing in Tamaki. So I am delighted with the way that Housing New Zealand Corporation has lifted its game particularly in difficult circumstances such as the Canterbury earthquake. 
Hon Annette King 
: Does he think he is in touch with the magnitude of the housing crisis in Christchurch considering he told this House that most Housing New Zealand Corporation houses in Christchurch were in the red zone when in fact two-thirds of them are not in the red zone; and why did it take the Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery to demand action for Housing New Zealand Corporation to start repairing the State houses so what is he paid to do? 
Hon PHIL HEATLEY 
: There are over 6000 houses in Canterbury; I do not think I said that most of the 6000 were in the red zone.