Potaka TamaHon TAMA POTAKA (Associate Minister of Housing): I rise to scaffold the articulate and agile kōrero of my learned colleague and sentinel the Minister of Housing Christopher Bishop and to respond respectfully to the king of hyperbole from Wairarapa and the Nostradamus of housing from Christchurch who have demonstrated—demonstrated—some of the sheepish guilt that they must feel—sheepish because some of the lowlights of the last six years by a Government that's been misguided and devoting energy and wasteful spending on housing support for needy New Zealanders. Roll call coming people: an increase of emergency housing support from under $90000 a day to over $1 million a day; the moral and social catastrophe of nearly 3000 kids in emergency housing; an increase of the social housing register from around 5000 to now 25000 households; an operating deficit at Kāinga Ora (KO) of over a half a billion per annum estimated to be $720 million by 2026 and 2027—could have built a medical school in Hamilton for that sort of money—decreasing homeownership particularly among Māori and Pasifika; an extra $170 per week rent increase for New Zealand households—Carl Bates: Shameful.Hon TAMA POTAKA: Shameful. Revenue at Kāinga Ora getting a lot less than expenses. And debt expected to go to $23 billion. And work in progress growing from $472 million in 2018 to nearly $3 billion in 2028. Rental debt in Kāinga Ora going from $1 million in 2017 to $21 million in 2023. And over 450 people living in Kāinga Ora homes who owe more than $10000 at the end of 2023. Our previous Government's track record and track of spending will have Kāinga Ora spend $21.4 billion over the next four years. Every Kiwi—every single Kiwi—would pay $4000 for that privilege. And now even for a real blow especially for my whanaunga in the Opposition—hopefully the permanent Opposition if you listen to Matua Shane Jones—over 10000 extra Māori households on the social housing register in the last six years and over 1000 more Māori households living in hotels and motels and places like Ulster Street Hamilton; Fenton Street Rotorua; and up and down the motu. If that is not a roll call worth fighting against what is?Kāinga Ora houses thousands—tens of thousands nei—of people in very hard situations—over 70000 homes in our country. It's responsible for public assets worth billions and relevant repairs and maintenance costs. And it's incumbent upon this Government to ensure that that job is done prudently that job is done effectively and that job is done a whole lot better than the previous Government's attempt to provide social housing for the masses.And after yesterday's announcements by the independent review what have we found out? We have found that KO has a poor understanding of tenant outcomes with decision making remote from those affected. We have made investments in KO and interventions separate from evidence. Kāinga Ora incentivises higher cost support and creates poverty traps for tenant whānau. KO's performance has deteriorated and their ability to maintain and renew assets is at risk. KO's financial viability is at risk compounded by limited attention to value for money and apportionment of costs and revenue making it difficult to have financial sense. Asset procurement is not done transparently nor delivering value for money.This is absolutely shameful and we are here to get housing back on track. We need to change the housing system—yes we do—to be fit for purpose and we will continue to both support State houses and support other people to provide social housing. There is not one single money tree that's going to solve all the housing challenges that we face as communities. There's not one. The recommendations of the independent review are even more pressing. For example consolidating the Government funding for housing outcomes under the Minister of Housing my learned sentinel Christopher Bishop supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development; the Ministry of Housing directing Housing and Urban Development to take a social-investment approach to housing—to social housing. And responsible Ministers to set an expectation that the Kāinga Ora board will have a credible plan to improve financial performance. That's quite a novel idea for some people in this room but not for us in this party or this Government.And finally can I add this: the Opposition can deride Sir Bill English. They can put him down. But I attest to his honesty his integrity and his absolute genuine empathy for those people who are less well off and I appreciate his commitment to the ongoing success of all New Zealanders and the provision of this independent review. Tēnā tātou katoa.