Field Taito Phillip: Debate on Crown Entities Public Organisations and State Enterprises — In Committee Speaker Recalled In Committee 
Field Taito Phillip: Debate on Crown Entities Public Organisations and State Enterprises — In Committee Speaker Recalled In Committee 
[Volume:617;Page:13241] 
Hon TAITO PHILLIP FIELD (Minister of State) 
: 
 That was an appalling speech. That member had the audacity to get up on his hind legs and talk about a housing shortage when it was the National Government that sold off 12000 houses during its tenure in office. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: How many? 
Hon TAITO PHILLIP FIELD 
: Twelve thousand! It is interesting to note that the shortage of houses for those on the waiting list actually matches the 12000 houses that the National Party sold off. Then that member had the cheek to respond to an interjection that asked how many houses the National Government had sold by saying: “Not enough.” He wants to talk about the housing shortage and the long waiting list and then says that the National Government had not sold off enough houses. 
One of the major contributing factors to poverty in this country is the cost of housing. There is no question about that. I ask members Opposite to do their homework and to look up the facts about poverty in our communities. We also know that overcrowding is a significant factor contributing to infectious diseases. People in communities such as south Auckland contract meningitis and all sorts of infectious diseases because of overcrowding and this Government is doing something about it. We are quite proud of our track record over the last 4 years. We are looking at building an extra 3500 houses and another 3000 to 4000 houses in the following 3 years. That will deal effectively with the giving of stability to low-income families. When families cannot afford to rent they have to move from house to house. That sort of mobility gives instability to children who need to go to from pre-school and kindergarten on to primary school. When they do not have that stability in their family life their education suffers. So it is a question not only of health and education but also of the fundamental right of families and children to be able to access affordable quality housing. That is what this Government is about. 
I am very proud that we have significantly reduced the cost of housing by an average of $1800 for low-income families. The disastrous effect that market rents—brought in by the previous National Government—had on those families is something that those members opposite need to be ashamed of. As we continue to talk about the poverty within our communities we have to remember that a lot of people including many children suffered under the National Government in the last decade not only because of its housing policies but also because of other aspects of its social policy such as benefit cuts of 25 percent. 
Labour has a proud record of rebuilding the stock numbers in State housing. We are looking at meeting the demands in Auckland. I am particularly concerned about the south Auckland area that I represent which has the longest waiting list for State houses. At least we are moving towards ensuring that the stock numbers are built back up to the 72000 that they used to be before the National Government sold off 12000 of them. 
We must also recognise the need to promote homeownership. There is a decline in homeownership and I congratulate the Minister of Housing Steve Maharey on looking at initiatives that can promote low-income families into their own homes. The Kiwibank package has already been released. It helps families into homes without deposits and it is also a way of getting them to understand how to repay their mortgage. That is very important in helping to increase in percentage terms the numbers of families into their own homes. 
What we in this Government have achieved in the housing portfolio is very important. It is something we can be proud of. Housing is fundamental to the health and well-being of our communities particularly for low-income people. This Government has a proud track record of achievement and we look forward to the next phase in its housing policy which is to improve the numbers I referred to and to get the stock level up to where it can meet the demand particularly in areas like Auckland. There is no doubt that Auckland’s growth means that there is a need to plan properly to ensure that communities have the facilities planned around Housing New Zealand’s housing projects. 
I am sure the Minister can expand on what is being looked at for the next 12 months but certainly the emphasis of this Budget will be not only on housing and levels of incomes but also on supporting low and middle income families who need it.