Soper Lesley: Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Soper Lesley: Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:649;Page:18457] 
LESLEY SOPER (Labour) 
: 
 Well it does not surprise me at all that the previous speaker from the National Party Phil Heatley opposes so vehemently the Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill. It does not surprise me at all when one considers that any bill with the words “affordable housing” in its title would seem to be anathema to the National Party. It does not surprise me at all to see that the National Party would be opposing a bill that seeks to create more choice and opportunity for families by giving councils some flexibility to promote a wider variety of house sizes ownership models and costs in the new home market. Why does it not surprise me that National which brought in market rentals for State houses sold 13000 State houses and devastated the housing market should come into this House and oppose this very good affordable housing bill? 
It does not surprise me that those members are back to their old tricks of the 1990s once more. What those members do not like is the fact that this bill provides new powers to enable territorial authorities to increase the supply of affordable housing in their local areas and to do the sorts of good things that the Queenstown Lakes District Council has struggled to do. That is another very good thing that territorial authorities will be able to do under this bill and they will be able to take an easier path to do it. The fact is that this bill enables other territorial authorities—without the same problems and in consultation with their community—to require persons doing developments to facilitate the provision of affordable housing to low and moderate income households in a way that encourages that range of housing sizes tenures and costs. 
The bill fits with other work that the Government has undertaken to improve housing affordability in New Zealand and that is why the National Party finds it anathema. Those members do not like the idea that this Government has had successes in that area. When we consider the other initiatives that are under way— 
Sandra Goudie 
: Such as? Name one. 
LESLEY SOPER 
: —such things as the very good and popular shared-equity scheme the work done to start large-scale housing developments that help boost the numbers of affordable housing available and the improvement in the quality standards of houses among other things—we can see that that is why National members find it anathema. They just cannot bear the idea that this is a good Government that cares about affordable housing. The Government sees it as being fundamental to the health and well-being of families and communities that there is decent affordable housing. It actually regards it as a basic human right. And that is what those carping speakers on the other side just do not seem to be able to grasp—that this bill is actually popular and required. 
The fact is that this bill balances the needs of the community for affordable housing with developers’ needs for consistent and predictable planning guidelines and with the property rights of individuals—balance between developers and communities. The National Party cannot take it because that party seems to not want to admit that Labour can actually come up with good balanced legislation that once again delivers to ordinary people. That is what National members do not like—that this party has delivered and keeps on delivering in housing health education and in a range of social issues. That party has never delivered in any of those areas in any of its previous administrations and will have no chance to try to even think about delivering in the future because the people of New Zealand know that if they want good social provision whether it is in housing or in any other area the party they need to have leading the Government is the Labour Party. Thank you Mr Speaker.