Foster-Bell Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFoster-Bell Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 24 June 2014. Volume:699;Page:18779. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.PAUL FOSTER-BELL (National)to the Minister of Housing: What progress has he made with local government in securing Housing Accords under the legislation passed last year and how are they increasing the supply and affordability of housing?Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister of Housing):The first housing accord with Auckland was signed on 3 October last year and we are on target to exceed the additional 9000 homes and sections in the first year. Next week the Government will formally gazette the third tranche of 44 special housing areas which amounts to a fast-tracked zoning of an additional 18000 sections. The Christchurch Housing Accord is focused on the distinct issues from the earthquake around temporary and social housing and is currently out for consultation. Today I signed with Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown a new housing accord with the capital. The council has identified areas where fast-tracked planning would bring on-stream additional housing and the accord sets a target of an additional 7000 homes and sections over the next 5 years. We are also progressing accords with Western Bay of Plenty Queenstown and Tauranga all of which have different issues but all of which will help with supply and affordability.Paul Foster-Bell: What reports has the Minister received on residential construction activity and how many homes does he expect will be built this year?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Statistics New Zealand last week released its quarterly report on building activity which showed the largest increase in construction activity in 14 years—up 12.5 percent on last year—which is very encouraging. The latest building consent figures are similarly impressive. In the year to April 2014 there were 23000 new homes consented which is up from just 13000 a couple of years ago. Christchurch consents were more than double last year’s consents Auckland’s consents were up by 41 percent and nationally the increase was 27 percent. I am advised that we expect to build 25000 new homes this calendar year which is the largest number in a decade.Phil Twyford: Can he confirm that more than a year after he announced the Auckland Housing Accord and promised Aucklanders 39000 houses he has not built a single new house in the special housing areas that anyone is living in and will he also confirm that he is on the phone to any mayor who will take his phone calls begging them to sign up to one of his housing accords because he is so desperate to make it look as if he doing something about the housing crisis?Mr SPEAKER: Either of those supplementary questions—the Hon Dr Nick Smith.Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The irony of that question is that only 12 months ago that was the member who was accusing me of not working closely enough with local government and now he accuses me of working too closely with local government.Phil Twyford: How many have you built?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I am proud of the fact that building consent figures show that the number of consents this year is up by 27 percent on last year and I would welcome taking Mr Phil Twyford down to the very first housing area show him the bulldozers show him the houses that are being built—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That answer is long enough.