6. Question No. 6—Housing and Urban DevelopmentHon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister of Housing and Urban DevelopmentQuestion No. 6—Housing and Urban Development6. Hon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development: What changes are being considered to the KiwiBuild programme to in his words make KiwiBuild a stronger incentive for developers and how we can make it work better for first home buyers" and "provide a package of assistance to developers that will be enough of an incentive to get them to commit to serious volumes of affordable housing"? Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Housing and Urban Development): We came into Government with a plan to tackle the national housing crisis. Part of that plan hasn't worked as well as we expected in the early stages and we haven't built as many KiwiBuild homes as fast as we had planned. But in spite of this we're making good progress to address the housing issues that we inherited. Consent numbers show that between KiwiBuild and other Government housebuilding we're building more homes than at any other stage in the last decade. I am currently preparing options for Cabinet to consider and Cabinet will make decisions on specific changes in due course. However I can confirm that we are considering how we can better support builders to build more KiwiBuild homes and accelerate large-scale projects and acquire land faster. Changes to the underlying system are also required to address the dysfunction in the housing market. That's why we are moving faster to reform the planning rules establish the urban development authority and progress infrastructure funding and financing reforms. Hon Judith Collins: Will either the purchase or construction of KiwiBuild houses be subsidised? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: No. Hon Judith Collins: What kind of programmes is he envisioning putting in place that will incentivise developers without providing a subsidy?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: As I said we're considering a number of options to strengthen the Buying off the Plans part of KiwiBuild. I'll be taking options to Cabinet shortly and the member will find out shortly after that. Hon Judith Collins: How can he assure New Zealanders that he will successfully redesign the KiwiBuild programme in the next few weeks since he has stated that his initial design of KiwiBuild is in need of "recalibration" so soon into the Government? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well we're doing something that no Government has tried to do since the 1970s and that is to work directly with builders to encourage the building of more affordable homes. We're actually trying to do something about the housing crisis and build affordable homes unlike the former Government who basically did nothing of that kind for nine long years. We're doing our best and we will build more affordable homes. Hon Judith Collins: How does he respond to the Deputy Prime Minister's statement that "there are many in this Government who are seriously going to be practically committed to ensure that we do meet our targets." and that "I am going back to former Governments where practical men who had never been to university and women decided they would get on with the job and get it done—and get it done we are."? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well I think the Deputy Prime Minister's statement exactly reflects the spirit that we bring not only to KiwiBuild but to the entire housing and urban development programme. Hon Judith Collins: When will he announce any KiwiBuild targets that will allow the public to hold the current Government to account on KiwiBuild progress before the next election? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: We've made it very clear that we are totally committed to the target of 100000 affordable homes over 10 years. We will continue to be completely transparent—as we are and as we have been—about the number of homes that are being built through KiwiBuild through State housing and all of the other things that we're doing."