5. Question No. 5—Housing (Public Housing)BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)Question No. 5—Housing (Public Housing)5. BROOKE VAN VELDEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing): Does she stand by the Minister of Housing's statement regarding healthy homes standards that the tribunal will apply a degree of pragmatism and consideration and be reasonable"; if so is she saying that the Tenancy Tribunal won't enforce the law?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)): In answer to the first part of the member's question yes. The Government acknowledges the difficulty some landlords have experienced complying with the healthy homes standards due to the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions. In the event of alleged non-compliance with healthy homes standards I'm advised that each case will be assessed on its own merits and the reasons for non-compliance including disruptions caused by COVID alert levels are taken into account by the tribunal. There is a longstanding convention that Ministers don't comment directly on the judiciary's decision-making process.Brooke van Velden: Has she asked the tribunal to be lenient with landlords who will not be able to comply with healthy homes standards due to COVID restrictions and if not how can she assume that they will be?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I expect that the public interest test will be applied. If a landlord's genuine attempts to comply with the healthy homes standards in the context of the challenges caused by COVID-19 alert level restrictions—it would be unlikely to be in the public interest for enforcement action to be taken. But I just want to remind the member it is a longstanding convention that Ministers don't comment directly on the judiciary's decision-making process.Brooke van Velden: If the tribunal is going to enforce the law why doesn't the Government simply extend the deadlines for compliance for landlords and make the law clear for New Zealanders wanting to do the right thing?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: It's my understanding that the vast majority of landlords have already complied and those who haven't yet are most likely impacted by the restrictions caused by COVID-19 alert levels. It's my expectation that those cases will be treated by the tribunal based on the facts that are presented to the tribunal.Brooke van Velden: Does the advice from officials on this matter that she will not release because she doesn't believe it's in the public interest to do so at this time recommend that the Minister should extend deadlines for healthy homes standards compliance by changing the law?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: The advice was that it would not be possible to extend compliance deadlines in a way that assists the vast majority of landlords and including those whose compliance deadlines have already passed. When compliance with the healthy homes standards within the deadline proves impractical due to COVID-19 restrictions and particularly alert level 4 I'm advised that it's unlikely to be in the public interest for enforcement action to be taken. I understand that my officials have communicated this to sector groups in recent days and I plan on contacting them directly as well."