Heatley Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Heatley Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:645;Page:14835] 
12. 
PHIL HEATLEY (National—Whangarei) 
 to the  
Minister of Housing 
: How many applicants are currently on the Housing New Zealand Corporation waiting list? 
Hon MARYAN STREET (Minister of Housing) 
: 
 Housing New Zealand Corporation advises me that as at 29 February 2008 the number of applicants on the waiting list was 9875. This figure includes 2435 applicants already living in Housing New Zealand houses who are seeking a transfer. 
Phil Heatley 
: How many of these thousands of needy families are locked out of a home by an official written corporation policy where 6000 market-rent tenants “have no legal responsibility to advise the corporation of the purchase of an investment property”? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: I would be keen to hear if that member has any details of cases that he would like to furnish me with how that is being applied and to whose disadvantage. 
Lynne Pillay 
: What initiatives is the Labour-led Government taking to reduce the waiting list? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: We have a targeted acquisitions programme. We are making better use of the State houses that we do have. We are providing housing through the Housing Innovation Fund. In fact there are many initiatives—too numerous to mention here—but it does have to be said that it takes a lot longer to build and acquire Housing New Zealand Corporation properties than it does to sell them. 
Phil Heatley 
: Why is it that if any of the 6000 State house tenants paying a market rent buys an investment property or a holiday home that tenant has no legal responsibility to Housing New Zealand Corporation; or does the Minister think that State house tenants should be able to own rental properties and holiday homes while thousands languish on the waiting list? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: I am absolutely clear that the priority for this Government and Housing New Zealand Corporation is to house the most vulnerable in our society. There is no difference to that policy from this Government. If there are occasions that can be called fraud that are to do with subletting—where there are instances of people abusing the privilege that a Housing New Zealand Corporation house provides them—then I would like to know about that so the appropriate steps can be taken. 
Phil Heatley 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. My question was about the policy that tenants can have investment properties. It was nothing about fraud. This is actually legal practice according to the Minister. Could I please have an answer about the legal practice of people being able to have investment properties when they are State house tenants? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: The Minister addressed the question. 
Phil Heatley 
: Can the Minister confirm that this policy which states: “There is no requirement for the tenants who are paying market rent to declare investments such as interest in properties.” means that up to 6000 State house tenants can quite legally be landlords themselves under the Labour Government rules; if not what does this policy mean? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: I draw to the attention of this House the fact that some 94 or 95 percent of State house tenants are on income-related rentals. The remaining few percent who are on market rentals have been tenants for a very long time. They have probably been Housing New Zealand tenants since long before this Government came into power. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Would the Minister please address the question. 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: I can talk about the policy of this Government which is to house the most vulnerable. If the policy to which the member refers exists within the corporation then I will do my best to address that when I have the appropriate information. 
Phil Heatley 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. You asked the Minister to address the question. Should I repeat the question so that the Minister can address it? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: No the Minister did address the question. 
Phil Heatley 
: I seek leave to table the reply to written question 10585 which includes “6000 tenants pay market rent”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. 
Phil Heatley 
: I seek leave to table the financial review containing “Market rent tenants have no legal responsibility to advise of an investment property.” 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. What are we to make of a member of Parliament rising to his feet and seeking to table a page of  
Hansard 
? In respect of the question that member has just asked the first publication was to do with a written question which becomes part of the record. The member is grossly wasting Parliament’s time. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: What members can do is agree or not agree and they did not agree. It is a matter that is before the Standing Orders Committee as to documents that members ask to table in this House. I personally think it is time we looked at it.