Mackey Moana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Mackey Moana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:617;Page:12633] 
9.  
MOANA MACKEY (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Housing 
: What is the Government doing to ensure New Zealanders have access to decent and affordable housing? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Housing) 
: 
 Since 1999 the Government has committed an extra $2 billion through Housing New Zealand for the provision of decent and affordable housing in New Zealand. 
Last week I released a discussion document to help inform a 10-year New Zealand housing strategy. We also launched 37 refurbished houses in Auckland under the programme for Auckland housing. Since 1999 we have increased the number of State houses by 4000 with 4000 more planned; reinstated income-related rents for 56000 low-income households; and invested in help for low and modest families to buy their own home. 
Moana Mackey 
: What alternatives are being proposed to this Government’s approach of investment in decent affordable housing? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: In stark contrast to the record I have just outlined we have proposals for the selling of State houses to the highest bidder as was done in the 1990s when 13000 were sold—a paltry 20 percent going to the tenants in them. We have proposals for time limits on social housing so a house will never be a home and a return to market rents even though they were leading the cost of houses upwards. Those proposals come from both David Carter and Wayne Mapp of the National Party. 
Hon David Carter 
: Is the Minister concerned that his Government’s housing policy has seen tenancy turnover in State houses decrease from 33 percent to 15 percent in the last 3 years and does he believe it appropriate for State houses to be occupied by families with incomes in excess of $100000 a year net of tax; if not why? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The answer to the first part of the question is no. What the Government wants to see is people stabilise in their homes. For example we had such turnover that local schools were in some cases threatened with closure because they could never guarantee what their roll would be from day to day because of National’s housing policy. The answer to the second part of the question is that we do try to ensure that as people reach a level of income where they might like to buy a house they can buy one. For example the mortgage insurance scheme is targeted heavily at those tenants who can move from a State house buy their own house and move into the private market. That was not done by the National Government in the 1990s. 
Brent Catchpole 
: Is Housing New Zealand Corporation building new housing stock or is it simply buying housing stock from the private sector therefore reducing that stock available to people in New Zealand and thereby making it impossible for people in need of housing to get into housing? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Since 1999 the Government has built 4000 new houses and it is currently in the process of building another 4000 new houses. In the Budget we will make projections of more new houses. We are building new houses. 
Peter Brown 
: Will the Minister clarify some of his answers? How many families are on the State housing waiting list now and how many does he expect to be on the waiting list in a year’s time? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: There are currently about 12000 people on waiting lists all over New Zealand which is just a little fewer than the 13000 houses the National Party Government sold. 
Peter Brown 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I did ask how many the Minister expects to be on the list in a year’s time. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister can speculate if he wishes. He is not forced to. 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: It would be difficult to make a projection here today but of course what the Government wants to do is ensure that we have enough housing stock to meet the needs of all people who cannot afford to pay a market rent or to buy their own house. 
Ron Mark 
: Has the Minister noted the difficulties that first home owners are now suffering in purchasing their first home as a result of such policies as immigration and an increase in the market price of houses; if he has noticed that is he going to announce—or will he consider—a policy that allows people to purchase their State home so that they may finally get a home of their own? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Yes I have noticed that it is difficult to get a first home buyer into a house because of house prices. No we do not intend to introduce policies where people will buy their own State home for the exact reason that was asked over here: we want to increase State housing stock not reduce it.