Naylor Jono: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNaylor Jono: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 11 November 2015. Volume:710;Page:7885. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]6.JONO NAYLOR (National) to the Minister for Social Housing: What reports has she received about the impact methamphetamine use is having on Housing New Zealand’s ability to house people in need?Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Housing): I have recently seen a report from Housing New Zealand about an increasing number of its properties that are having to be decontaminated or even demolished because—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I apologise to the Minister. I cannot hear the answer because of interjections from my immediate left.Hon PAULA BENNETT: I was just ignoring the angry man. Last year 229 homes had to be decontaminated up from just 28 a year earlier. Fourteen houses were actually so badly damaged that they had to be demolished. Being in a social house is a privilege that comes with a huge subsidy from the taxpayer and it also comes with responsibilities. It is simply unacceptable that some people are abusing that privilege by using meth leading to delays for others.Jono Naylor: How many houses currently cannot be used because of methamphetamine contamination?Hon PAULA BENNETT: Currently there are 322 Housing New Zealand homes that are sitting empty because they are contaminated or suspected of being meth infected. Those homes could house 7 percent of the people currently sitting on the social housing register. Houses can take months to decontaminate meaning that those in real need are having to wait longer of course which is simply unacceptable.Andrew Little: What steps is the Minister taking to remove the offending substances in the house of Jaymie Tihore and William Aue in Porirua whose child is suffering so far incurable respiratory diseases because of her failure to fix up the mould and damp in their State house?Hon PAULA BENNETT: In February this year actually $16500 was spent on that home in ensuring that it had thermal curtains and carpeting. Housing New Zealand also put a heat pump in—Andrew Little: Kids are sick. The kids are still getting sick.Hon PAULA BENNETT: I am answering your question—I am actually answering your question.Andrew Little: No you’re not Paula.Hon PAULA BENNETT: Settle down; you are getting a little angry.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question was asked—I think it was a good question. I want to hear the answer.Hon PAULA BENNETT: That house before it was tenanted in March had more than $16500 spent on it. Housing New Zealand upgraded the kitchen. It actually repainted all the walls. It put a heat pump in and thermal curtaining and it put carpet on the floors. Housing New Zealand also informs me that it has been trying to get hold of the family in the last couple of months—and has been unable to—to look at some of the phone calls it has had from them. We have actually spent more than $400 million on maintaining and actually building more homes and we have got the Warm Up New Zealand programme which is really working to try to heat up those houses. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order!Jono Naylor: What is it costing Housing New Zealand to deal with the meth contamination in its homes?Hon PAULA BENNETT: Last year alone—[Interruption] Goodness gracious!Mr SPEAKER: I have given a specific warning to that member once already. I will issue now the very final—final—one.Hon PAULA BENNETT: Housing New Zealand has spent $2.3 million on decontamination retesting and remediation—more than three times what it spent in 2013. Each decontamination can cost up to $16000 and of course a demolition means that that whole house needs to be rebuilt and that takes time. Housing New Zealand spent a record $400 million on home maintenance and upgrades just in the last 12 months alone.