Lotu-Iiga Sam: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLotu-Iiga Sam: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 24 October 2013. Volume:694;Page:14271. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (National—Maungakiekie) to theMinister of Housing: What progress is the Government making in increasing housing supplyimproving the quality of the Government’s housing stock and growing the community social housing sector?Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister of Housing): I am encouraged by the latest building permit figures which show that we have had 3000 more homes built as for the same time last year. I also note last week’s announcement by Fletcher’s that it is trebling the number of houses that it is going to build from 300 per year to 1000 per year and next week I expect to gazette the first 11 special housing areas which will net another 6000 sections as part of the Auckland Housing Accord. We are also making good progress in improving our State housing stock with us on schedule to insulate all 47000 homes that can be by the end of this year strengthening or replacing all 19000 earthquake-prone State houses by the end of next year and repairing or replacing all of the 5000 earthquake-damaged houses in Christchurch by the end of 2015. This year we have also announced direct Government funding for 421 homes to be built by the community housing sector.Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga: Is the Minister aware of any significant new housing developments being recently approved in Auckland and is he satisfied that the council is improving the time frames for processing these consents?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Yes. A new development of 420 terraced houses was announced this week in Mount Wellington’sSpringpark the largest such housing development for Auckland in years. The project was processed in a tight time frame of just 4 months by the Auckland Council for which it should be commended and illustrates how it has improved its processes in response to Government concerns. I also note that these 420 homes are in the modest $320000 to $550000 price range without any regulatory requirement. This confirms that the market will respond to the demand for lower-cost housing if we create the right environment.Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga: Is the Government considering advancing housing accords with other councils; if so which ones and what progress is being made?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The Government’s immediate priority was Auckland where the housing supply issues are most acute but I am also giving consideration to scheduling both Christchurch and Wellington. The housing issues in Christchurch are unique and quite challenging because of the earthquakes. We have built four temporary accommodation villages we have partnered with the private sector on worker accommodation we have established the Canterbury Earthquake Temporary Accommodation Service and we have moved at pace to repair and rebuild our social housing stock. Tomorrow I am meeting with the new Mayor of Christchurch to explore further initiatives to support Christchurch’s housing needs. Discussions in Wellington are at a preliminary stage but I hope to be in a position to make further announcements there next month.Phil Twyford: Why is he talking about trialling a warrant of fitness for Housing New Zealand houses when those houses are almost all now insulated as he said in an earlier answer and when he knows that the real unmet need is in the private rental market? In light of that will he be supporting my Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The immediate priority for this Government was insulating the appalling state of State houses where after 9 years of the previous Government 45000 State houses had not had a bean spent on their insulation. We are nearing the end of the completion of that insulation work but it is incorrect to say that insulation alone is the only quality issue that we want to explore with the warrant of fitness. The Government’s work about that warrant of fitness idea is advancing. I hope to be in a position in a matter of months to make announcements about that work.