Bennett David: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBennett David: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 28 October 2014. Volume:701;Page:251. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]3.DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East)to the Minister responsible for HNZC: How will changes to Housing New Zealand help meet the Government’s objective of providing more quality housing to New Zealanders most in need?Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister responsible for HNZC):The Government’s changes in social housing which were well signalled in legislation last year are focused on providing quality social housing to more New Zealanders—that is housing in the right place the right condition the right size with the right kind of support services for New Zealanders who most need them. These changes will put tenants’ needs at the centre of the housing policy rather than the number of houses owned by one entity Housing New Zealand Corporation. One way we are going to improve the quality of housing is to open up the social housing sector to other providers as happens in almost all other developed economies so we have more choices about where those who are in serious housing need can have those needs met. The Government will continue to maintain at least the current number of households eligible for income-related rents which is around 60600.David Bennett: How does the Government’s programme to improve the performance of Housing New Zealand fit within its overall approach to delivering better public services to New Zealanders?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Our overall approach with Better Public Services is to get better results for people rather than have more programmes for Government departments or in this case we will be measuring our success on meeting serious housing need rather than on how much we spend on investing in State houses. We have found that what works for people when we get good results works for the Government’s books. With housing our focus is going to be on ensuring that we have the kinds of choices that we need to ensure that those in serious housing need have their needs met but also that they can move to housing independence rather than being reliant on the Government for housing subsidies for the rest of their lives.David Bennett: Over the past few years what steps has the Government taken to prepare for Housing New Zealand’s new approach to providing housing to those in need?Hon BILL ENGLISH: The Government’s programme has been well signalled for the last 4 years. In 2010 we published a detailed report from the Housing Shareholders’ Advisory Group in 2011 we set up the Social Housing Unit which has spent $130 million on subsidies to the community housing sector already and last year we passed the Social Housing Reform (Housing Restructuring and Tenancy Matters Amendment) Act 2013 opening up social housing to approved non-Government providers and in April 2014 the assessment of social housing applications moved to the Ministry of Social Development.Hon Trevor Mallard: Why did Housing New Zealand wait until just after the election to place four units in Waione Street Petone opposite the beach which had been wrongly evacuated 2 years previously as earthquake risks and were the subject of hundreds of thousands of dollars of vandalism on the market?Hon BILL ENGLISH: You would need to talk to Housing New Zealand but I think it is an indication of the growing pressure on it to perform that it is now taking action to redevelop that site.Hon Trevor Mallard: Why is Housing New Zealand favouring developers and landlords over ordinary Kiwi families wanting to get their first home by requiring that all four of these units be sold as a block rather than individually despite them being on individual titles?Hon BILL ENGLISH: That is a very good question. We would be quite happy to see Housing New Zealand Corporation selling some of its units to hard-working Kiwi families who find those units affordable. But I would have to say it has been under some constraint both from this Government and previous Governments stopping it from doing that. I have never really understood why that is the case but I am happy to take up the member’s cause with Housing New Zealand Corporation.David Bennett: How will the Government improve the way Housing New Zealand manages its portfolio to provide better housing for tenants?Hon BILL ENGLISH: First the Government certainly takes the view that with an asset valued at $18.7 billion we can do better than having too many people living in garages around New Zealand. We must be able to use that $18.7 billion better. Secondly Housing New Zealand will start to realise that some of its houses are in the wrong place. In the past it has taken a bit long to change tenants over in its houses because it will start feeling the pressure of other providers who may do a better job.Hon Trevor Mallard: How is it good use of an investment to have four units empty for 2 years and subject to about half a million dollars’ worth of damage when the fifth unit in the block previously sold by Housing New Zealand has had a tenant in it through that time under a sublease arrangement whereby that individual tenant is a Housing New Zealand tenant?Hon BILL ENGLISH: Well on the face of it as the member describes it that arrangement does not make a lot of sense and it is an indication of the amount of improvement of performance we can get from Housing New Zealand and also an improved supplier of affordable housing to the market under the reforms the Government is putting in place.