Heatley Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Heatley Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:643;Page:12852] 
9.  
PHIL HEATLEY (National—Whangarei) 
 to the  
Minister of Housing 
: Does she have confidence in Housing New Zealand Corporation; if so why? 
Hon MARYAN STREET (Minister of Housing) 
: 
 Yes; because it is doing an excellent job of providing housing for the most vulnerable in our society. 
Phil Heatley 
: How does she justify the corporation’s spending of $2.8 million to do up 19 State houses at $150000 a pop when a small home could be built for that amount? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: There are occasions on which the Housing New Zealand Corporation is required to expend money: where considerable repairs have been done where there is a modernisation programme going on or for other reasons. 
Lynne Pillay 
: What other support is the Labour-led Government providing to ensure that New Zealanders have access to quality affordable housing? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: Ensuring that vulnerable New Zealand families get access to quality affordable housing has been a priority since the very first Labour Government. Since this Government was elected in December 1999 we have added 7417 homes to our State housing stock. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: To take Mr Heatley’s extrapolation further if one built 19 houses for $2.8 million but did not have any land to put them on what would be the purpose of doing that? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: I am very aware of the point the member is making. I reiterate that the Housing New Zealand Corporation works at every turn within its remit to provide quality secure housing for vulnerable families. 
Sue Bradford 
: Does the Minister believe that in order to make housing affordable and available to all New Zealanders we need to see an accelerated rate of investment in both State housing and community-sector housing? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: The member raises a very good point. We are trying to address the issue of affordable secure housing for vulnerable families through a range of options—a menu of ways—and that requires some creativity and some additional planning. This Labour-led Government has just those creative plans in train at the moment. 
Phil Heatley 
: Why is Labour spending $150000 each on these 19 lucky properties when a fraction of that money could fix Savali Lapana’s house at 2 Iris Grove Porirua in respect of which she gave this signed statement: “My husband and I have been spending all our money cleaning the mould. Housing New Zealand just painted the ceiling but the mould keeps coming up. My son has asthma attacks. That’s why the five of us use just one bedroom to sleep in.”? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: Whether it is an issue of crowding or of healthy housing I say to that member that this Labour-led Government has done more about providing healthy housing than any previous Government. I assert further that if there are particular examples of houses with problems then the neighbourhood unit of the Housing New Zealand Corporation needs to be made aware of that and the corporation’s constant renovation repair and maintenance programme will address it. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: Can the Minister confirm that half of the 67000 State houses in New Zealand have already been retrofitted and that the Housing New Zealand Corporation is retrofitting three houses a day to try to get the rest done as soon as possible? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: Not only can I confirm that but I can add further that the regular programme of maintenance and retrofitting is a major commitment of this Labour-led Government’s portfolio in housing and it is one that will continue. 
Phil Heatley 
: Why with Labour’s long proud record of quality secure housing for vulnerable New Zealanders is the Minister spending $150000 on a single property when a fraction of that could fix Stuart Matiaha’s house at 7 Sasanof View Porirua in respect of which he states: “It’s mouldy in all three rooms. Gaps around the windows cause draughts to get in. The toilet’s leaking. My children have sores all over them so have been to the doctor. They got rid of them but the sores came back. I have asked Housing New Zealand to do something. They came and took photos and that’s it. I asked if they could fix my oven. They said an electrician would be there in 5 to 10 days. That was 2 months ago.”; how long do Stuart and his kids with their sores have to wait? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: The Housing New Zealand Corporation is responsible for 66000 State homes. In those houses we house something in the order of 200000 New Zealanders. There is always attention needed to those areas that are most at risk and those properties that are in greatest need of repair. I do not for a moment pretend that such a case does not exist but what I object to is this member’s sensationalising of the plight of very vulnerable New Zealanders for the sake of cheap political points. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Can I ask the Minister as to the precise date that this 7 Sasanof View property was brought to her attention—or is it the case that we have somebody headline hunting with other people’s misery? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: The approximate date and time that that address was brought to my attention was 7 November at 2.52 p.m. 
Phil Heatley 
: Is the Labour Government with its proud history getting value for money by spending $150000 each on 19 single properties when a fraction of that could fix Leonie Tawhai’s house at 25 Corinna Street in respect of which she states: “My cupboards are full of termites. The windows shake the walls are cracked from leaking there’s mould in the bedroom and hallway.”; or Terrivon-tal Boyce’s problems at 13 Durham Street in respect of which he states: “My son’s medical states that the fungus growth mould and mildew piling up—” 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. With the greatest respect the member’s last question was long enough and this one is already long enough. But more particularly there is no reason for it to go on any longer because he has not brought it to the Minister of Housing’s attention. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is not a point of order but the member does in fact raise the point that questions are meant to be succinct and not speeches or long statements. Would the member please ask his question succinctly. 
Phil Heatley 
: Terrivon-tal Boyce states: “My son’s medical states that the fungus growth mould and mildew piling up are the reason for his skin disorders. Housing New Zealand still continues to give me excuses.”; after 8 years of this Government why is its fourth Minister of Housing still giving excuses? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: I am very prepared to look into any individual case that is brought to my attention. I will do that. My whole connection with this portfolio over the last 7 years has been one that connects with the most vulnerable people in our society and seeks to address the very issues that that member raises. I am happy to look into them. 
Phil Heatley 
: I seek leave to table the answers to parliamentary written questions on the $150000 do-ups. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. 
Phil Heatley 
: I seek leave to table the 12 sworn statements about corporation inaction. 
Documents by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Phil Heatley 
: I seek leave to table photographs of the mould and filth due to leaks rain and damp. 
Photographs not tabled. 
Phil Heatley 
: I seek leave to table a statement by the then Minister of Housing a month ago that he would look into these housing issues. 
Document not tabled.