5. Question No. 5—Housing (Public Housing)CHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)Question No. 5—Housing (Public Housing)5. CHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing): How many people were on the Housing Register in September 2017 compared to today and what is the median wait time for people on the Housing Register to be housed in public housing?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)): The housing register reflects the strong emphasis that we have placed on people coming forward and telling us if they need housing support and the long-standing failure to build the homes New Zealanders need that we inherited. The register has increased by 20485 applications since September 2017 when there were 5844 applications. The median days to house is 234. Since September 2017 we have housed 29501 households and in that time we have overseen record building consents up 25 percent on 2021 added over 8900 new public homes and we are on track to deliver the 18000 additional public and transitional homes to be built and delivered by 2024.Chris Bishop: Does she think that rent increases of $150 a week since 2017 have contributed to the housing register quintupling since 2017?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: There are a range of considerations when addressing the issue of the register and the wait times and one of them is the fact that we inherited a housing crisis that the previous Government ignored and we are determined to fix. We're making good progress but it will take some more time.Chris Bishop: Just in reference to the last part of her answer—that we need more time—has she been advised as to when the housing register will return to the levels it was in September 2017 and if so what is it?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: There is no acceptable number. We want to ensure that people are housed in affordable warm dry housing and that's why this Government has committed to building more public housing. We do that because we want to ensure that when people feel the need they can come forward to the Ministry of Social Development and express their need for housing.Chris Bishop: Point of order Mr Speaker. It was quite a specific question which was whether or not the Minister had received advice as to when the housing register numbers will decrease back down to 2017 levels. It was a reference to the Minister's first supplementary answer in relation to the Government needing more time. I'm seeking to find out exactly how much more time they need and when that might be.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The Minister did speak to part of that. I'm not sure she mentioned if it was official information. Maybe the Minister would like to clarify.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: No.Chris Bishop: How many children are living in emergency housing whose families are on the housing register?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: It's never acceptable for children to be in emergency housing and that's why what we are doing is ensuring that we build more public housing. It would be important for the member to recognise that emergency housing is part of another delegation and I would welcome the opportunity if the member wishes to choose it for the member to put that question in writing and I would pass it on to the Minister who is responsible for that work.Chris Bishop: Point of order Mr Speaker. It's correct somewhat oddly that the Minister for Social Development and Employment is responsible for emergency housing but the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing) is responsible for the housing register. And my question was: how many children are living in emergency housing whose families are on the housing register? The Minister does have responsibility for that and I'd ask you to get her to address the question.DEPUTY SPEAKER: I actually think she did but I'll give the member one more supplementary. There's enough doubt for him to explore that again.Chris Bishop: Has she been advised as to the increase in the number of children who are living in emergency housing whose families are also on the housing register and if so what is it?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: As I've just said we are talking about two different responsibilities here. My role in public housing is to ensure that we provide sufficient housing for our people on the public housing register to move off. The circumstances of that is that people come to us with a range of needs. If the member would like to know if people are in emergency housing I can pass those questions on to the Minister responsible. That member should put his question in writing to me.Chris Bishop: Why is the Minister not across the detail of her portfolio to the extent where she does not know how many children are growing up in motels who are on the housing register that she is responsible for solving or addressing?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: There are a range of circumstances that people on the housing register are in including whether they have been living in substandard homes whether they have been dealing with life circumstances that have made things very difficult for them. My role is to ensure that we support the build of housing so that we can move people from the register into warm dry safe affordable accommodation and that's what this Government is doing.Chris Bishop: Has she had a conversation with the Associate Minister of Housing Marama Davidson regarding her open letter calling for rent controls and if she has had a conversation in that conversation did she suggest to the Associate Minister that as a Minister of the Crown she perhaps had some responsibility and some influence over Government housing policy such that she wouldn't need to write an open letter to the Prime Minister of the Government in which she serves?Hon Chris Hipkins: Point of order Mr Speaker. Clearly the Minister answering this question is not responsible for the subject matter that the member has raised.Chris Bishop: Speaking to the point of order. The question was around whether or not she had a conversation with the Associate Minister of Housing Marama Davidson. The Minister is definitely responsible for a conversation she's had with their Associate Minister I hope.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yeah but on the other hand—[Members interjecting] Order! No your question went on to include issues and factors that the Minister is not responsible for. She can answer the first part of the question.Chris Bishop: Point of order. We are in a bit of a difficulty here because the Associate Minister of Housing Marama Davidson has written an open letter to the Prime Minister and my question is a very simple one which is whether or not Minister Williams in the Associate Minister role—DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yeah I heard what the question was and I've made a ruling. [Members interjecting] No sit down. No one's speaking to the point of—I have made a ruling and the Minister can address the first part of the question in so far as she's responsible for it.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: Thank you Mr Speaker. I have conversations with Minister Davidson all the time on a range of issues concerning housing concerning family and sexual violence and a whole range of other concerns.Hon Carmel Sepuloni: Point of order Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker just seeking your advice with regards to that line of questioning that's just occurred. It was incredibly confusing because incorrect assertions around people's portfolios were made and the wrong responsibilities—DEPUTY SPEAKER: No that is not a point of order. That is not a point of order. You cannot take a point of order to seek advice. I've made the ruling and that ruling stands.