4. Question No. 4—HousingRIMA NAKHLE (National—Takanini) to the Minister of HousingQuestion No. 4—Housing4. RIMA NAKHLE (National—Takanini) to the Minister of Housing: What recent concerns has he raised with Kāinga Ora regarding vacant homes?Hon CHRIS BISHOP (Minister of Housing): Mr Speaker thank you. Earlier this month I announced that I had written to the board of Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities to make it clear that the number of social houses sitting vacant across New Zealand is completely unacceptable. As of late last year the total number of vacant social homes in New Zealand was 3906—5 percent of New Zealand's total public housing stock. Twenty percent of new public homes delivered by Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities between June 2022 and October 2023 were still sitting vacant in October last year. Kāinga Ora has been planning and building these new homes for years. They were not a surprise. My expectation is that months out from a new home's completion they should be getting organised with new tenants who need these homes and I'm sure they'd much rather be moving into a brand-new home rather than sitting in an emergency housing motel room.Rima Nakhle: What else was in the letter to Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities?Hon CHRIS BISHOP: The letter outlined my disappointment with the numbers and it made clear my expectation that with over 25000 families on the social housing wait-list—20000 more than six years ago—social housing homes should not be left empty for a day longer than absolutely necessary.Rima Nakhle: What does this announcement mean for New Zealanders on our social housing wait-list?Hon CHRIS BISHOP: Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities' performance impacts every New Zealander—none more so than the thousands on the wait-list living in motel rooms or sometimes even worse. My letter and the announcement earlier this month instruct Kāinga Ora to focus on efficiently placing tenants into social housing across New Zealand and to work with greater urgency to do so. We are committed to getting Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities working well so that it can serve those in the greatest need.Hon Ginny Andersen: Can the Minister please tell me why he is unable to answer how many people in Lower Hutt are presently on the social housing waiting list?Hon CHRIS BISHOP: Well that number is publicly available. From memory without checking my information as of 30 September 2023—again from memory—the number in Lower Hutt City of people on the wait-list was 623 and I would note that that is a fivefold increase compared to October 2017.Rima Nakhle: What other plans does the Government have for Kāinga Ora?Hon CHRIS BISHOP: As I've mentioned previously in this House the Government has commissioned an independent review into Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities which is currently under way. We're looking at financial situation procurement and asset management and I'm looking forward to receiving the report in March. As I say it is critical to the Government that Kāinga Ora—Homes and Communities operates efficiently and effectively and delivers taxpayers value for money.Hon Ginny Andersen: It's a point of order Mr Speaker. I have in response to written question No. 30561 that the Minister stated he advised he was unable to provide the information on the Lower Hutt waiting list. So it is news to us now that he suddenly has that—Hon CHRIS BISHOP: Speaking to the point of order I know the precise question the member is referring to. The issue is that the member asked for the number as of a certain week Mr Speaker. The numbers as the former Ministers in the Opposition know so well are not broken down on the social housing wait-list by week; they are broken down as at the end of a month or at the end of a quarter. The information is published monthly and quarterly. If the member is specific about exactly what she is asking she will get that information. And the other point I would note is that the information is publicly available every quarter. The member just needs to learn a little website: www.google.com.