Bidois DanDAN BIDOIS (National—Northcote): It's a pleasure to lead off the Opposition position in this debate on the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill at its first reading and I certainly want to preface that it's a pleasure to do this because this bill directly affects me as a renter. I am one of the only renters in this Parliament so it gives me a special privilege to be able to give a perspective on how this legislation is going to impact renters as well as landlords. Now this is yet another shot in the guts for landlords. At a time when we all know there are affordable housing challenges in New Zealand this bill is going to pile on the costs for landlords and reduce the amount of available rental property available. We can already see that the KiwiBuild has been an absolute failure for this Government. We've already seen that the Government through Kāinga Ora or Housing New Zealand has started to buy up private developments; therefore crowding out first-home buyers. This Government is now so bereft of ideas that their solution to this is simple: Let's pile on the costs for landlords and keep renters in their homes." Well the National Party disagrees with this approach and we disagree on the simple basis of facts. Rents are up in Auckland by $50 since this Government came into office. Housing prices are still going through the roof. The social housing register—Lawrence Yule: 14000. DAN BIDOIS: —has increased by 14000 my colleague Lawrence Yule has just made me aware. So these proposed changes are going to do nothing for the housing affordability challenges. Let me run through these challenges for the people at home. So part of the proposed changes in the residential tenancies is going to be increased regulations around tenancies. It gives tenants the right to add fittings and change the household. It gives renters the ability to have a pet and as a renter I'd certainly like that but I think that this is a step too far. It also beefs up the regulators to in fact intervene and fine and punish landlords who are not complying with the legislation. It also increases the penalties for landlords that breach the standards that are outlined in this law. It also restricts rental increases to a fixed amount and also proposes changes to the Tenancy Tribunal as well. So all of those changes—when you add it up what is this going to mean for your average mom and pop landlord? What it's going to do is it's going to pile on the costs. It's going to make it actually less worthwhile to lease or rent your house out so it's going to reduce the supply of rental properties on this market. It's in fact not a carrot but much more a stick approach to landlords. It's going to raise the costs for renters like myself and the many thousands of Aucklanders who rent throughout this great nation in not just Auckland but throughout New Zealand. It's going to raise the costs even more on those that rent. Don't take my word for it; take the Real Estate Institute's perspective on this who also says that this is going to pile on the costs and for many landlords it's going to be too much. So what you're going to see in fact is landlords just say "Look I'm going to give up. I'm not going to rent my house out." and that is the exact opposite of what we want in this country. So National's position is of course that we strongly oppose this legislation. It is going to add on extra costs for landlords. It's going to reduce the supply of rental properties throughout New Zealand. These changes do nothing for the long-term challenges of housing affordability in this country. You just cannot trust this Government when it comes to delivering on affordable housing. Two years ago this Government said that they would build 10000 homes a year. Well how many homes have they built—200 300? You cannot trust this Government on housing. Second—and I do want to raise this important point and it's in relation to the process of which this bill is being put through Parliament. Now the Minister in charge Kris Faafoi has just outlined a shortened select committee process from six months to I believe four months and two days. We know that this is in a rush to get this bill into legislation before the next election. Maybe it is because they are in fact not confident that they are going to win the next election. Maybe it is because they want to demonstrate that they have done something in relation to housing affordability after sitting on their hands for the last 2½ years and doing nothing. Since I have been in this Parliament I have witnessed attempts to curtail democracy for political gains. It is very important for the public of New Zealand that we have the rigorous process surrounding the way in which our legislation is scrutinised. So I would ask that in fact the Minister reconsiders the shortened select committee process—Dr Duncan Webb: Speak slower! DAN BIDOIS: —and take it back to six months. Let's analyse this Duncan Webb. Let's analyse this in a select committee fashion. Let's get everybody who is affected by this bill renters and landlords alike to see what they have to say on this bill. So it is a pleasure to lead this debate opposing these radical changes that are not necessary for New Zealanders that are going to pile on the extra costs for landlords. National will oppose this bill."