Twyford Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Twyford Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 12 March 2013. Volume:688;Page:8385. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
8. 
PHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatu) 
 to the  
Minister of Housing 
: Does he stand by all his statements in relation to Auckland’s metropolitan urban limits? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister of Housing) 
: 
 Yes because the metropolitan urban limit adopted by the former Auckland Regional Council and endorsed by the previous Labour Government was a policy failure and has contributed very negatively to housing affordability in Auckland. 
Phil Twyford 
: Will Cabinet now reconsider its decision to delay the Auckland Unitary Plan having effect until 2016 given his statement that he is not prepared to wait until 2016; if not why not? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I do think it is very important that we increase land availability in Auckland prior to the unitary plan process completing but anybody who understands the Resource Management Act would also understand that simply making the draft plan take effect does not necessarily bring that land into supply. If the member wants to pursue that issue he should pursue it with the Minister for the Environment. 
Hon John Banks 
: What reports has the Minister seen on the claim by Auckland Mayor Len Brown on Television New Zealand’s  
Breakfast 
 on 30 October 2012 that: “In Auckland we have 18000 sections available right now if we were to build.”? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I would note the statement yesterday by Mayor Len Brown that the actual number of sections ready to build on is around 2000—2000. I met with Mayor Len Brown last month and said that it was important for the Government and the council to have reliable information about the number of sections. Officials from the council and the Government have worked very effectively. Tomorrow I will be releasing a substantive report that answers the details of the land supply challenges that we have in Auckland. 
Phil Twyford 
: What is the Government’s policy then? Is it Amy Adams’ refusal to allow the Auckland plan to take effect later this year thus freeing up greenfield land or is it his threat to override the Auckland plan to bring it in this year; and why does the Government not just get its act together? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Neither because the point that I made to the member is that the position that has been taken by my colleague Amy Adams is that it is not necessarily an instant fix to simply bring the unitary plan into effect. Let me explain to the member directly why— 
Hon David Parker 
: But it is an instant block. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Let me just explain because I do not think that the member who is interjecting understands. Even if the Auckland plan—the proposed plan—took effect in September it would not mean that new residential subdivisions would be dealt with on a non-advertised basis—a non-publicly notified basis. That would still not occur until 2016-17 and if we have only 2000 sections available I am not sure that is soon enough. 
Tim Macindoe 
: What reports has the Minister received on the price of sections and the supply of sections over the past decade? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I am advised by housing officials that the average section price in Auckland has gone from $100000 in 2002 to $325000 today. I am further advised on supply—based on the district valuation rolls—that in every single year in the last 10 years there has been a drop in the number of vacant sections such that there is only half the number of sections in Auckland today as there was a decade ago. 
Phil Twyford 
: On what basis did he make the threat to legislate to free up greenfield land in an uncontrolled way by overriding the Auckland Unitary Plan which frees up greenfield land six times the size of Nelson in a controlled and measured way? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: That is simply incorrect and what I would say to the member opposite is that the previous Labour Government endorsed the Auckland Regional Council’s metropolitan urban limit. That has made houses way beyond the dream of ordinary New Zealanders and that is why this Government is working with the Auckland Council to make houses more affordable for Aucklanders. 
Phil Twyford 
: Why did the Government bother establishing the super-city when it seems determined to go to war with Auckland on issues like housing and public transport; and when will the MP for Nelson stop arrogantly trying to run Auckland from his office in Wellington? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: When you are the housing Minister you actually have to take a very strong interest in housing affordability issues in Auckland. If we adopt the approach the member is taking is he saying that members who are Ministers can take no interest in issues outside their electorate? That is a ridiculous notion. I have a very strong interest in working with the people of Auckland and delivering something that Labour never delivered and that is affordable housing for the people of Auckland.