12. Question No. 12—HousingNICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Minister of HousingQuestion No. 12—Housing12. NICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Minister of Housing: Has the Government done enough to increase housing supply and which new measures if any for boosting housing supply will she have up and running in the next six months?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Housing): In answer to the first part of the question we have started work to boost housing supply which has been an issue in the making for decades but we are the first to acknowledge that the job is far from complete. So far we have started work on the largest Government build programme since the 1970s which will deliver more than 18000 public and transitional houses by 2024. We've passed the Urban Development Act and introduced the National Policy Statement on Urban Development. We've boosted funding for housing infrastructure via the New Zealand Upgrade Programme and the COVID Response Fund along with many other initiatives. In the coming months I expect to announce further initiatives in the Government's progressive homeownership scheme a public housing plan setting out locations for the additional 8000 public and transitional houses funded through Budget 2020 and the roll-out of a $350 million fund to support the residential construction sector. I'm also continuing to work with officials and colleagues on other matters relating to housing supply and we'll have more to say in due course.Nicola Willis: When will the Government deliver on the commitment to increase housing supply by removing the Auckland urban growth boundary?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: As the member well knows there is a comprehensive body of work being carried out around issues around land supply. We have the work that is being led by my colleague the Hon David Parker around the repeal of the Resource Management Act. Added to that we also have the fast-track consenting process of the COVID fast-track consenting processes; added to that the National Policy Statement on Urban Development. There are a number of measures under way to make sure that we are freeing up land for development.Nicola Willis: Well will the Minister consider boosting housing development in our major cities by bringing forward the deadlines in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: As a Government we are examining a range of measures that can boost supply. But I would point to the fact that the COVID fast-track consenting process is providing a way through for a number of housing developments many of them in Auckland.Nicola Willis: Is it correct that only 652 new KiwiBuild houses have been built 4 percent of the 16000 target and how many KiwiBuild houses will be built next year?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: I think the number of KiwiBuild houses built has been a very well-traversed number and I can confirm from the latest dashboard that is available on the ministry's website that indeed 652 have been built. There are a further 916 under construction and the KiwiBuild and Kāinga Ora developments have resulted in 1573 market houses being enabled with another 438 houses being announced. I will put those numbers against the 100 affordable homes delivered by the National Party when last in Government through the special housing areas over a period of nine years.Nicola Willis: What additional measures will the Minister consider to help community housing providers get the finance they need to start shovel-ready plans for new housing development?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: One of the initiatives that we have started with the community housing providers is entering into long-term contracts with them so they can have the certainty around finance raising. We now have the ability to contract up to 25 years and many of our community housing providers are taking this up. This is an innovative way that we are supporting the community housing sector. I do note that when something is measured as a proportion of a number the bigger the number of the commitment and that is funded through the income-related rental subsidy the more community houses that can be built.