12. Question No. 12—Public HousingSIMON O'CONNOR (National—Tāmaki) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)Question No. 12—Public Housing12. SIMON O'CONNOR (National—Tāmaki) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing): How many social houses if any has the Government sold since it took office and at what total value?Hon KRIS FAAFOI (Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)): Since November 2017 of the over 65000 State houses provided by Kāinga Ora they advised me that they have sold 169 houses. Half of these sales were to tenants as part of the tenant homeownership scheme. As clearly stated in December 2017 State homes from time to time would be sold if they were no longer fit for purpose. However the proceeds from these sales are always reinvested in providing new supply and quality homes. Since taking office this Government has added 4925 warm and dry homes to the public housing stock. Housing Minister Megan Woods is ensuring the momentum is continued. On this side of the House we have made it a priority to increase the supply of warm dry—SPEAKER: Order! I think the member has answered the question.Simon O'Connor: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I hope it's not actually challenging your ruling. I don't think he addressed the last part which was the total value. I apologise if he did and would like the number again.SPEAKER: Well if the member did and people didn't hear it it's because his own colleagues were yelling him down.Simon O'Connor: Oh OK. Thank you. How does the Minister reconcile the Government selling I'm assuming around $30 million worth of State housing with the statement late in 2017 that The Labour-led Government today cancelled the sell-off of State houses fulfilling another of its first 100 day promises"?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: Well just to answer the part of the primary question the amount that has been gained from the sale of those 169 houses is estimated to be around $55 million. I would reiterate that that money is not returned to the centre; it is reinvested back into making sure we increase the quality and quantum of quality public housing stock in New Zealand. Now when the announcement was made back in December 2017 we said that there would be an end of the large-scale State house sell-off. We have sold 169 in three years where the previous Government washed its hands of over 6000 in its nine years in Government.Simon O'Connor: When considering those not sold to tenants what is the criteria that the Labour-led Government is using to determine which social houses will be sold?Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker I suspect you realise what I'm going to say. We've been here for almost three years and he predicates that statement on a false constitutional position which was made very clear when this Government was formed and I ask for him to correct the lexicon or the narrative these three years later.SPEAKER: Yes and if we had the degree of exactitude that the Deputy Prime Minister is asking for I think it's fair to say that just about every question and most answers—and I especially think of one of his colleagues—would be ruled out. Ask the question again.Simon O'Connor: As best as I can remember: when the Minister considers those houses not sold to tenants what is the Government using to determine which of those State houses should be sold?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: When Kāinga Ora go through and assess other than those that are being sold directly to tenants they look at whether the property is too old and too expensive to maintain the property no longer meets tenants' needs or is not in the right place to meet demand. I'd also add that sales are done in low-demand areas.Simon O'Connor: When the Government has repeatedly promised that it will not sell State houses was the insertion of the word "not" a mistake?SPEAKER: Oh no. Order! Order!Hon Dr Megan Woods: Does the member consider it a success that of the 169 State houses that have been sold either for tenants or because they were not the right house in the right place compared to 4925 built as something we can be proud of whereas the previous Government sale of 1398 over three years and only adding 1537—SPEAKER: Order!Hon Dr Megan Woods: Can I just finish?SPEAKER: No. There's enough of a question there.Hon KRIS FAAFOI: Yes.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You cannot for one minute consider that that supplementary question was in any way terse as it should be required to be. For us to point that out and then lose questions is completely unreasonable.SPEAKER: Well the member should talk to some of his own colleagues. I'm applying a pretty even standard. Some of his own colleagues have been asking some very unreasonably long questions.Simon O'Connor: I'm assuming that's the end of it.SPEAKER: One more.Simon O'Connor: Oh splendid. Thank you. Can the Minister explain to the House how selling State houses is a case of fulfilling a promise to not sell State houses?Hon KRIS FAAFOI: Well we said at the time when we announced this policy back in 2017 that the large-scale sell-off of State houses was coming to an end. That was on the eve of the proposed sale by the previous Government of over 2000 Christchurch State homes which we stopped. I will reiterate: in the last three years we have sold 169 half of those to those tenants already in those houses as opposed to the previous Government who sold 6000 in nine years."