Sio William: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSio William: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 26 March 2015. Volume:704;Page:2662. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.Su’a WILLIAM SIO (Labour—Māngere) to the Minister for Building and Housing: Have all boarding houses that are “rat-infested mouldy dives that are unfit for human habitation” been closed down since he said he wanted them eliminated in November 2014; if not why not?Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Housing) on behalf of theMinister for Building and Housing: Let us be clear that if boarding houses in that condition exist I would expect local councils to have taken action under the Health Act to rectify the issues or enforce closure. The Government received a report from the Social Services Committee in late 2014 and we have tabled our initial response early this year. We are awaiting advice from officials on implementing the recommendations we agreed with.Su’a William Sio: Given his Government’s belief that “there is a risk that raising and enforcing minimum standards in boarding houses would reduce the supply of boarding house accommodation” why does he not replace the worst slum boarding houses with a commitment to decent emergency housing that goes beyond the pathetic $500000 announced by Paula Bennett yesterday?Hon PAULA BENNETT: What he has been doing is liaising with the Minister for Social Housing who actually in regards to that emergency fund that was put in place is looking after those organisations that are working with people who have emergency housing needs seeing them needing a short-term injection of $500000—which I am sure they are very pleased to be receiving—acknowledging that there are longer-term issues that they want to work alongside of them that are sustainable that actually recognise that there might be more funding and that is actually the way forward for them.Su’a William Sio: Is it acceptable for any family to live in rat-infested mouldy dives that are unfit for human habitation; if not why has he not taken immediate action to shut down rogue operators in the boarding house sector and why will he not set up a licensing regime and impose minimum standards to protect vulnerable communities housed in boarding houses?Mr SPEAKER: The Hon Paula Bennett—any of those three supplementary questions.Hon PAULA BENNETT: Let us be quite clear: boarding houses are regulated under the Residential Tenancies Act and the Health Act amongst others. If it is the case that the member knows of boarding houses that are in that sort of condition he should actually be getting hold of the local council and making sure that it is actually adhering to the Acts that are in place now that insist that there cannot be those kinds of living situations. So if the member is sitting here simply thinking that this is the way to address it there is a means to do that and he has a responsibility to follow through on that.Su’a William Sio: Does he honestly believe that it is up to the council or that private providers of boarding houses can regulate themselves given that he himself has acknowledged that some boarding houses are rat-infested mouldy dives that are unfit for human habitation and he is the Minister for Building and Housing with the power to prioritise funding for those most vulnerable in our communities?Hon PAULA BENNETT: Let us be quite clear that the Government has come back from the select committee inquiry which was far-reaching and had a number of recommendations that we agree with. As far as working through—Phil Twyford: They were weak.Hon PAULA BENNETT: Well that member was on the select committee was he not? So if he could not actually then influence that then there are quite a few problems there. As far as building minimum standards the Government is working its way through a response but there are a number of Acts that should be adhered to that make sure there are not those kinds of living situations. And if the member knows of any then he should be fronting up and making sure that they are followed through by the council.Su’a William Sio: After being in Government for 7 years why is he refusing to adequately protect the most vulnerable New Zealanders who are increasingly being forced to turn to boarding houses because of his Government’s housing crisis?Hon PAULA BENNETT: Well I simply disagree with all of that statement.