Chauvel Charles: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Chauvel Charles: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:637;Page:7634] 
9.  
CHARLES CHAUVEL (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Housing 
: What assistance is the Government providing to Wellington City Council to upgrade its social housing stock? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Housing) 
: 
 Today with the Mayor of Wellington Kerry Prendergast and my colleagues Annette King Mahara Okeroa Marian Hobbs and Charles Chauvel I announced a $220 million partnership with Wellington City Council to substantially upgrade its 2354 social housing units. In return the council has agreed to stay in social housing for 30 years to reinvest rental income back into the maintenance of its homes and to improve tenancy management. 
Charles Chauvel 
: What outcomes is the Government expecting from this investment? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Wellington City Council is the second-largest landlord in the region housing approximately 4000 elderly low-income or disadvantaged tenants—more than 11 percent of all rental housing in this city. Ensuring the supply of affordable quality housing is a priority issue the Government is progressing through its “families—young and old” theme. This contrasts sharply with the “hollow men” opposite who started selling State houses again—a policy Mr Key is so embarrassed about he runs for cover every time it comes up. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would members please keep the noise down. It is impossible for members to hear. 
Phil Heatley 
: Why have State and council housing waiting lists mushroomed year on year across the country since 2001 even though more houses have been provided; is it because Kiwis are poorer there is a growing underclass in New Zealand and fewer people can afford their own home? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would members on the Government benches please keep their interventions down otherwise people will be leaving the Chamber. 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: There are two simple and logical explanations. Firstly people can now afford State house rents because they pay income-related rents. Previously under the National Government they paid market rents. Secondly and just as important National sold off 13000 houses—not to tenants mostly but to speculators. If we still had those 13000 houses we would not have a waiting list. 
Pita Paraone 
: Tena koe Madam Speaker. Does the support given by Government to the Wellington City Council allow for that council to implement a rent-to-buy scheme of its housing stock; if not why not? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: Housing remains a need in all parts of New Zealand. This Government is committed to keeping social housing as part of that opportunity to provide affordable housing for people who still need to rent houses. Wellington City Council is following the same programme and I applaud it for that. 
Darren Hughes 
: Has the Government given assistance to any other councils around New Zealand to upgrade improve or build new social housing stock? 
Hon CHRIS CARTER 
: In 2003 the Government established the Housing Innovation Fund to support social housing projects through partnerships with local authorities and not-for-profit organisations. As of 31 January 2007 loans and grants worth more than $38 million had been made with a further $14.5 million expected for this year. A very good example of that is the $5.2 million loaned to the Horowhenua District Council championed by that member that enabled the council to build 40 new pensioner flats and modernise 70 existing units in Levin Shannon and Foxton. I seek leave to table a document taken from  
The Hollow Men  
that states National would renew its 1990s programme of selling State houses to provide homeownership by the former leader Mr Brash. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.