3. Question No. 3—HousingANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) to the Minister of HousingQuestion No. 3—Housing3. ANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki) to the Minister of Housing: Fakaalofa lahi atu Mr Speaker. What actions has the Government taken to address the shortage of housing in Hastings?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Housing): In December 2019 the Government entered into a bespoke place-based partnership with the Hastings District Council Ngāti Kahungunu and other local partners. As of August 2022 it has delivered compared to October 2017 a net increase of 166 public houses and around 70 renewals; 160 additional transitional housing places with another 253 in the current pipeline; 44 affordable rental papa kāinga plus infrastructure for a further 14 homes; repairs to 40 homes on whenua Māori; a homelessness hub; and infrastructure to enable 150 affordable homes.Anna Lorck: What investment has the Government made in housing infrastructure in Hastings?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Last week we announced $18.5 million worth of investment throughout the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) to improve road access and resolve capacity constraints in the district's waste-water network. This was a joint application between the Hastings District Council and the Heretaunga Tamatea Settlement Trust. The council believes that IAF funding will enable around 4000 new homes across multiple developments including 380 on several papa kāinga developments 670 affordable homes approximately 1300 public homes and 1650 market homes. Physical works are expected to commence next year.Anna Lorck: Why did the Government identify Hastings as a place to focus efforts?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Under the previous National Government Hastings had a net loss—SPEAKER: Order! Yeah that's not a great way to start off an answer. You should just address the question.Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Hastings was chosen because between 2008 and 2017 it had a net loss of 192 public houses. Hastings was experiencing rapid population growth which outstripped consents little new affordable or public housing supply and there was limited council engagement in housing and infrastructure investment. Motel use for homelessness was high and iwi had high levels of housing need but also high levels of housing aspiration. Hastings was chosen to trial the place-based partnership approach because of the high level of need and the willingness of the council and iwi to explore a different way of working.Anna Lorck: What change has there been in the number of households in emergency housing in Hastings as a result of this Government's actions?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: The successes of this pilot has meant withdrawing from the use of motels for emergency housing. On 13 May 2022 133 households were in emergency housing in Hastings. This is down to 65 households as of 7 October allowing the Ministry of Social Development to withdraw entirely from the use of four motels. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is also withdrawing from motels as transitional housing having exited 26 rooms at one location. This work is not complete but we are showing how it can succeed.Anna Lorck: What impact has the housing repair programme had in Hastings?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Funded in 2019 as part of the place-based approach the housing repair programme has focused on critical repairs on homes on whenua Māori where poor housing quality was repeatedly putting children in hospital. Across the two-year repair programme targeting 40 homes 314 whānau members have identified and benefited from significant health improvements including 119 tamariki aged under 10 years.Anna Lorck: What has made the Hastings place-based partnership so successful?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: A key factor has been strong leadership from the Hastings District Council and Ngāti Kahungunu and the willingness to think outside the box and beyond their traditional roles. There is a strong emphasis on jobs and skills development for locals. Ngāti Kahungunu is very active in partnering with Kāinga Ora through its construction company K3. K3 provides pastoral support to construction sector apprentices and it supports opportunities for Māori businesses to grow and it will deliver 130 affordable rental properties through our Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga partnership.Chris Bishop: How many children are living in cars tents and motel rooms in Hastings?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: If the member had listened to answers to previous questions the answer is far fewer because we are starting to repair the damage of the net loss of 192 public houses under the previous National Government. If there are children in motel rooms in Hastings at the moment it is because of the actions of the previous National Government.Anna Lorck: What is the housing pipeline in Hastings beyond the homes enabled by the Infrastructure Acceleration Fund?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: There are a further 500 homes in the Hastings partnership pipeline and these include 130 affordable rentals to be delivered by iwi through Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga; 150 affordable homes to be delivered by the Hastings District Council; and 250 public and transitional housing places.