Catchpole Brent: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
Catchpole Brent: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Volume:615;Page:10983] 
BRENT CATCHPOLE (NZ First) 
: 
 The Prime Minister’s statement this week made vague references to beginning consultation soon to ensure all New Zealanders have access to affordable and sustainable quality housing. Come on Prime Minister! This is not a new problem. It has been around for years. Why is this Government just working towards beginning a consultation period soon? It is time for action now not further periods of navel-gazing. The Prime Minister and her Ministers should look at New Zealand First’s housing policy for some clear and immediately achievable ideas. For example I will quote two or three ideas from New Zealand First’s published 2002 election policy: “New Zealand First will build or buy sufficient low-income houses to address New Zealand’s current housing crisis. New Zealand First will provide a better match between the size and location of houses to the requirements oftenants. New Zealand First also proposes low-interest loans for first-time homeowners to help them buy their own home or convert to a rent-to-buy scheme.” 
As the newly appointed New Zealand First spokesperson on housing I say to the Minister that I will be watching listening to and looking at the performance of the housing portfolio. It is time for action now and I expect to see significant progress from this Government in the upcoming Budget to provide for a significant improvement in housing. This Government had 9 years of planning in Opposition 5 years in Government and has a $5 billion surplus. It is not good enough just to begin the consultation process soon. 
Of course we know why this Government has to go back to begin consultation soon. It simply does not know how to overcome the problems it has created by its irresponsible open-door immigration policy. This policy has resulted in a huge demand for housing from new arrivals. That demand has driven up house prices and rentals to the exclusion of ordinary New Zealanders—citizens with a genuine and in many cases desperate need to get out of cramped and substandard lodgings. New Zealand First will not allow such an immigration policy to continue when we form the next Government. We will not allow our citizens to be forced down the waiting list and made to wait while houses remain empty reserved exclusively for new arrivals. 
We have heard a lot about Waitangi Day over the last couple of days. I could not believe the naivety of Don Brash when he arrived at the entrance to Te Tii Marae and demanded that mainstream media be allowed to accompany him on to the marae. When those demands were refused he stamped his feet like a spoilt brat who was not allowed the sweets and refused to go on. It was obvious that Mr Brash was at Waitangi for the wrong reasons. He was not there to celebrate our nation’s day of unity or to meet and build bridges and relationships with Maori. Mr Brash’s appearance was nothing more than a publicity stunt. The lack of respect that he received he brought on himself not for his Orewa speech but for his arrogant treatment of his only Maori MP Georgina te Heuheu. That is the shame Mr Brash needs to face up to. 
I wonder whether many of the other critics and media commentators actually attended the same Waitangi that I did. Peter Dunne’s claim of disgraceful behaviour at Waitangi is a good example. I ask Mr Dunne what part of the Waitangi activities he attended because I did not see him there. Waitangi Day is a wonderful fun family day when local Maori and Pakeha alike enjoy a day of music and spontaneity. I strolled around the Waitangi maraes with my fellow New Zealand First colleagues. We were greeted with smiles and friendly handshakes everywhere. I ask the media whether they can honestly say that the selective reporting of sensationalism is a true and fair representation of Waitangi Day or just tabloid sensationalism to boost ratings.