Tremain Chris: Estimates Debate — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTremain Chris: Estimates Debate — In Committee[Sitting date: 02 July 2014. Volume:700;Page:19173. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon CHRIS TREMAIN (National—Napier):Well we have just witnessed the first election debate for the seat of Te Atatū between Mr Phil Twyford and Mr Alfred Ngaro. In that debate we did see some anger from Mr Twyford so I think given that he is actually standing in a seat that is very much for the workers—and we are going to pitch an electrician a craftsman versus an administrator—it is going to be a very interesting battle in Te Atatū. But I want to focus on the positive work of this Government—I very much want to focus on the positive work of this Government.The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson): Order! I am sorry to interrupt the honourable member. There are members interjecting on each other who do not have the floor. It is not permitted in the people’s House.Hon CHRIS TREMAIN: Housing New Zealand provides decent affordable housing to those who are most in need and when they need it. It owns or manages 69000 properties across New Zealand housing around 200000 people.Today I want to acknowledge three people who have worked their guts out over the last 9 years for my electorate in Napier. They are sitting in the gallery tonight: Tania Wright Vicki Sanders and Sharon Coates. They have been my electorate agents over the last 9 years. Unfortunately they cannot come to my valedictory speech in a few weeks’ time but I just want to acknowledge the massive massive work that they have done over the last 9 years and throughout that period. Much of that work has been done with Housing New Zealand and serving people who have walked in our door irrespective of whom they have voted for—that is not a question we ask when you walk into my electorate office. They have been serving those people helping them when they are in tough situations and in a time of need and working very closely I might add with the fine people at Housing New Zealand. They have had to deal with many of the changes that this Government has instituted over the last 3 or 4 years.There have been some necessary things that we have needed to do with Housing New Zealand. The facts are pretty simple. There are three things. Firstly the demographics have changed significantly in terms of the requirements—what is required in terms of the houses and the composition of those houses. Families have changed in terms of what is required. So what we have been supplying through Housing New Zealand has not stacked up with those demographics.Secondly the quality of the housing in some cases—and in suburbs the likes of Maraenui—has been appalling. If you look at the one-up one-down homes the side-by-side homes that sit in that suburb many of them that have not been pulled down still remain cold wet damp and mouldy. They are a disgrace quite frankly and need to go or be changed. The third thing which has been the tough call that many in the House have struggled with but that we believe we need to get on top of is some of the outcomes that proliferate around the cluster of those homes that are wet and damp and terrible. Some of those outcomes are not pretty. Many in the likes of Maraenui have very strong gang affiliations. That perpetuates all sorts of outcomes including low employment low aspiration and high crime levels even amongst and within the community itself. In fact some of the highest crime levels in the country occur most repetitively within the lower socio-economic parts of the community. We make no excuses for looking to change and to make changes. We are doing that.I have got to say I was proud just a few weeks ago to take the Prime Minister into Maraenui and to take him to seven new homes that have been built in that wonderful suburb—seven brand new homes. They are pitched right beside some of the one-up one-down homes—the cold wet and damp ones—that are now fortunately not occupied any longer because they do not deserve to house people. But next door there are seven new homes and they achieved a six-star rating. To put that into perspective a new standard home built to current standards gets three to four stars. The one-up one-downs next door achieve only one star. They are a recipe for disaster for illness for sickness for bad health and for all sorts of things. Next door there are now seven homes which is the kind of stock that Housing New Zealand is now out there growing around the country with double glazing on the windows and insulation. I visited them as they were being built. They have massive insulation on the ceiling.Vote agreed to.