Twyford Phil: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTwyford Phil: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 03 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4250. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]4.PHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Minister for Building and Housing: Did he consult Auckland iwi on his plan to use vacant Government-owned land for private housing developments before he made the announcement on 21 May?Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for Building and Housing): My ministry met with the Tāmaki Collective representing 13 Auckland iwi and hapū about a month before the Budget on 23 April to outline the proposed Auckland Crown land housing programme and some of the sites that were under consideration. Consultation is not specifically required under the policy as the Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Act passed by this Parliament last year specifically makes provision in section 136 for Governments selling Crown land for housing purposes.Peeni Henare: Did he consult the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations and/or the Minister for Māori Development on whether or not offering surplus Crown land to iwi under the right of first refusal would expose the Government to judicial review that could completely overturn his Budget housing policy?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The entire Parliament was consulted on the policy because the 2014 Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Act voted on by members opposite specifically makes provision for land owned by the Crown to be used for housing purposes and not being subject to the right of first refusal. In respect of my colleague Chris Finlayson he is a member of Cabinet and was part of the Budget decisions relating to Crown land.Peeni Henare: Does he think that deliberately cutting out the iwi of Tāmaki-makau-rau so he can do a deal with the Australian property developers is consistent with the Crown’s obligation under the Treaty settlements to act in good faith?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I can only read to the member section 136 of the Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Act entitled “Disposals for State housing purposes”. It specifically says that the Crown can sell land and dispose of it to support the Crown’s social objectives in relation to housing or services relating to housing—legislation that was voted upon by every member of this Parliament.Phil Twyford: Why did it take his office 10 days to hand pick the 30 hectares of clean sites for his media stunt mystery bus tour out of the 500 hectares that he promised and can he confirm that his refusal to release the full list of 500 hectares is down to the damage that it would cause his collapsing housing policy and his crumbling reputation?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I know the member was very jealous that he was not able to come around Auckland and see the thousands and thousands of houses that this Government is building. I would also note that in the most recent building consent figures coming out on Friday we are now building 8000 homes a year in Auckland. That is double the number of just 3 years ago. I cannot help the fact that the member is jealous of the progress this Government is making on the issue.Phil Twyford: Does he recognise this quote from the latest Metro magazine as an accurate description: “No matter what he took over it would never take long before it would look as though things really were a complete shambles.”?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I would draw to the attention of this House that 3 years ago one of the real challenges we had was housing issues in Christchurch. I have not had a single question from that member on Christchurch housing issues because we are on top of the problem and that member has not been on the ball to be able to challenge those.