11. Housing New Zealand—Performance and Vacant LandHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Housing and Urban DevelopmentHousing New Zealand—Performance and Vacant Land11. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development: Does he agree with all reported statements made by Hon Phil Twyford in relation to housing; if so on what date did he realise that Housing New Zealand was already moving in the right direction"?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Housing and Urban Development): Yes I mostly agree with what Phil Twyford says. Recently I dealt with a case of Robert Erueti. Under the previous Government's policies Housing New Zealand evicted this man due to a very low methamphetamine reading in his State house which there was no suggestion that he personally was responsible for. The previous Government then spent $44000 putting him in motels for over a year and he eventually became homeless. When I asked Housing New Zealand about this they told me they wanted to change this failed policy. With better meth testing and sensible policy Mr Erueti would not have been evicted. I have apologised to Mr Erueti for how he was treated and Housing New Zealand has now found him a house. I was also shocked to learn that Housing New Zealand—Mr SPEAKER: No no. Order! [Interruption] Order! It's been too long already.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Will he also apologise to the hard-working staff of Housing New Zealand given his new-found view that they were providing outstanding care having previously accused them of staggering incompetence?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I was shocked to learn that Housing New Zealand staff have been doing pastoral care of tenants in their own time and I've been assured that this work is now going to happen as part of Housing New Zealand's core business in paid staff time and is not something that staff have to do for free. Housing New Zealand want to become a world-class public housing landlord and to work with me on building more State houses and they are happy with the direction that's being taken under this coalition Government.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Does he agree that he made a strong case to Guyon Espiner on Morning Report this morning that Housing New Zealand's building arm which he described as having "developed impressive capacity" should be merged with his "big delivery vehicle" for housing building the urban development authority which is the policy he took into the election; and if so will he take the proposition back to Cabinet and have another go?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The member will just have to wait and see. There will be more decisions on this in the new year. But he can be assured that under this Government our priority is building more State houses not selling them off.Hon Michael Woodhouse: What further flip-flops and backtracks should the New Zealand public expect on housing given that every drum-beating—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! That question's finished. If the member wants to try another one he can.Dr Deborah Russell: Has the Government inherited any vacant Housing New Zealand land and how is he working to get that issue moving in the right direction?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Yes. Incredibly nearly 70 hectares of Housing New Zealand land is vacant nationwide including 25 hectares where there were no plans for redevelopment. Much of this land sat unused for year after year under the last Government. Housing New Zealand couldn't afford to develop it because they were being milked for dividends by the National Government. I'm working with Housing New Zealand—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! Mr Twyford it is very important for the order of this House that you at least glance in the Chair's direction and the member should know that his mike is turned off at the point I stand up so he does look a bit foolish on the television mouthing with no sound."