Kaye Nikki: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Kaye Nikki: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:663;Page:11522] 
11. 
NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) 
 to the  
Minister for Building and Construction 
: What progress has been made on the Government’s leaky homes package? 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON (Minister for Building and Construction) 
: 
 There is yet more good news. Yesterday I—[ 
Interruption 
] Members need to hear this. Yesterday I was formally advised by Local Government New Zealand that it was “delighted to confirm” that all eight councils of the most directly affected communities had agreed to support the Government’s leaky homes package. Collectively those councils represent about 90 percent of current active leaky home claims which Local Government New Zealand has described as “a resounding endorsement of the Government’s proposal”. A further 13 local councils have also agreed to support it bringing the number now to 21. That means that we have received enough critical mass from councils to proceed with the package and during the remainder of this year we will be working on developing details for the package to be implemented at the beginning of the new year. 
Nikki Kaye 
: What feedback has he received from homeowners on the proposed leaky homes package? 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON 
: I have received a number of emails regarding the proposed leaky homes package. One affected homeowner said: “At long last someone has at least done something to assist in relieving the cost and stress of having a leaky home.” I have also seen a letter to the editor in the  
New Zealand Herald  
from an affected homeowner who said that he had been charged in excess of $250000 in legal fees for litigation which recovered only less than 30 percent of the cost of his house. That person said that he would gladly have settled for 50 percent and no legal fees. I can only but paraphrase the old Tremeloes song: under National even the bad times are good. 
Phil Twyford 
: Mr Speaker—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise to the honourable member. 
Phil Twyford 
: What progress has been made with the banking sector in order to reconcile the Government’s guarantee in his leaky homes rescue package with the banks’ requirement that loans be made on fully commercial terms? 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON 
: There is good news on that front. We have had the chief executives of the banks come in. They have engaged in the process. They have committed to working with the Government. The details of the arrangements between the Government and the banks will be worked out over the next few months and will be in place by the time that the first of the schemes comes into action. 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was so good I seek leave for Phil Twyford to ask another patsy question of the Government. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I am not sure whether leave can be sought on behalf of another member. The member himself is at liberty to seek leave to ask a further supplementary question should he wish. 
Phil Twyford 
: I seek leave to ask an additional question of the Government. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought for that course of action. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I apologise to the member but he probably has not realised that we have some special guests in the gallery and I think it is traditional that we greet them. Are you going to do that? 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: We have special guests in the gallery and I was delighted to have entertained them in my office during the lunch break. These are the ladies who are the contestants in the Miss Universe contest here in New Zealand. I am delighted that they are here and I want to tell the House that New Zealand’s only Miss Universe came from Pakuranga—Miss Lorraine Downes from Pakuranga College. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Can I just assure— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Members may have their own views about why the member wants to speak to the point of order but he is entitled to do so. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: I just wanted to assure the guests in the gallery that Labour too believes in world peace and will be joining their crusade in that particular regard. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I call the Hon Gerry Brownlee—[ 
Interruption 
] I apologise to the honourable member. There will be silence for the point of order. 
Hon Gerry Brownlee 
: I feel it is important that I point out that the last contribution to the point of order was made by Parliament’s most eligible bachelor. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I thank honourable members for their interventions and I thank our guests for visiting but Phil Twyford has been granted permission to ask a supplementary question. 
Phil Twyford 
: What is the projected cost of the Government guarantee and does it include bailing out homeowners who cannot service their loans? 
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON 
: The total cost of the entire package assuming 70 percent of the known leaky home owners take the package up including the 25 percent commitment and what we think is the realistic amount for the Government to guarantee comes to just over $1 billion over a 5-year period.