Little Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLittle Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 15 September 2015. Volume:708;Page:6582. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.ANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: What did he mean by his statement “we want Housing New Zealand to be doing the best job it can”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): I meant that we want Housing New Zealand to be doing the best job it can. I went on to say that Housing New Zealand “will continue to be by far the biggest provider of social housing in New Zealand. But the experience of countries like Australia and the United Kingdom is that having non-government organisations involved in social housing alongside the Government is a better way of doing things.” That is why the Government is trying to get community housing providers involved in running social housing and not leaving it all up to Housing New Zealand.Andrew Little: Does it help Housing New Zealand to do the best it can when he is already taking $118 million out of Housing New Zealand and is he planning on taking any more out this financial year?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: If the member is talking about the dividends that are paid then under the Crown Entities Act all surpluses have to be returned to the Government. That is the law. We have never requested more than that. That has been in the order of in recent times about $100 million off an asset base of $20 billion. Last year alone we spent $398 million on maintenance and upgrades—40 percent more than the highest year under Labour.Andrew Little: In light of that answer why does Housing New Zealand’s statement of performance expectations show the Government taking another $336 million out in this financial year than capital contributions to the Crown?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The member would need to direct that to the Minister responsible for HNZC.Andrew Little: Given that Housing New Zealand is reducing its planned maintenance due to budget constraints why is he taking a total of $454 million out of Housing New Zealand this year?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I do not believe that Housing New Zealand has budget constraints.Andrew Little: Why does he continue to use Housing New Zealand as a cash cow while refusing to fix homes that are killing New Zealand children?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: It is a very interesting cash cow—one that you give more cash to than you take off.Andrew Little: Is not this the truth: his Government is asset stripping Housing New Zealand to the tune of $454 million while Kiwi children are dying in cold damp State houses?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: That is far from being the truth. The reality is that under this Government we have tidied up the abysmal state that we found Housing New Zealand in. I know that members over there are looking down. They are hanging their heads in shame at how little they did. We have spent $30 million on providing heating in about 10000 properties. We have installed thermal curtains in 18000 homes since February 2013. We have retrofitted insulation to 53400 homes. We have spent more on maintenance 40 percent more than the absolute highest point ever under Labour.Andrew Little: If State housing is a priority for him and his Government why are there over 3000 families on the waiting list; children dying in cold damp homes; and a shortage of State houses?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: That is the very point about why the Government is expanding income-related rents not just to Housing New Zealand homes. Actually the social housing sector can provide stock that can be used to help those people in need.Hon Trevor Mallard: If Housing New Zealand is going so well why did one of my constituents have to ring Housing New Zealand seven times over a period of 6 months after their contractor left a hole in the ceiling and the roof so that all the hot air was leaving her children got sick—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. The question has been asked. It does not need to be that long.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The member knows that he needs to direct those specific questions to the Minister. I do not have that information; I am not responsible for that. But what I can say is that any issues that might be there under Housing New Zealand now are far fewer than they were when that member was a Minister in Government.