Heatley Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Heatley Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:643;Page:12937] 
10.  
PHIL HEATLEY (National—Whangarei) 
 to the  
Minister of Housing 
: Does she have confidence in Housing New Zealand Corporation; if so why? 
Hon MARYAN STREET (Minister of Housing) 
: 
 Yes; because it is doing an excellent job providing housing for the most vulnerable people in our society. But there is always room for improvement. 
Phil Heatley 
: Does the Minister agree with Housing New Zealand Corporation’s statement on its waiting-list website about the 6500 C and D category applicants that “It is unlikely that we will be able to offer ‘C’ and ‘D’ applicants housing”? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: Yes I do. 
Pita Paraone 
: Does the Minister have confidence that Housing New Zealand Corporation can adequately address the issue of affordable housing in a timely manner to ensure the Kiwi dream of homeownership remains achievable for all New Zealanders; is so when does she expect policy details to be released? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: New Zealand is not alone in having to deal with affordability issues. That brings us into line with other countries such as the United Kingdom Canada and Australia. However we have introduced targeted support for homeownership including the Welcome Home Loan scheme and KiwiSaver. As far as future activities are concerned we will be piloting a shared equity scheme and we are also considering for the near future a housing affordability bill. 
Gordon Copeland 
: Does the Minister have plans to further explore the scope for Housing New Zealand Corporation to play a constructive role in addressing the now serious issue of housing unaffordability for first home buyers in New Zealand especially those with young families? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: Absolutely; that is a priority for this Labour-led Government. The housing affordability issue is a critical one and we acknowledge that and we will through a lot of creative measures ensure that we address that issue in the near future. 
Phil Heatley 
: When is she going to publicly announce to the 6500 people on the waiting list that they will not be getting a State home? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: The system for allocating State houses is done on a priority basis; C and D applicants are not as urgent as A and B applicants. We will get to the C and D applicants probably through a variety of measures other than State housing. 
Sue Moroney 
: What has the Government done to address the housing needs of New Zealanders? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: We have turned Housing New Zealand Corporation from a real estate agency which it was under National to a vital social service working across the country to house needy families securely. The corporation since 1999 has implemented multiple initiatives such as the Rural Housing Programme the Healthy Housing project the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy the Housing Innovation Fund income-related rents and the Welcome Home Loan scheme. We will continue to build on that. 
Phil Heatley 
: How come the waiting list was only 8691 in 1998 and Labour has since added almost 7000 homes yet the waiting list has grown to 9955 today? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: We have introduced income-related rents which have had a knock-on effect in that respect. But can I also add that in the course of our Government’s tenure we have added about 18 houses a week to the State housing stock which compares in stark contrast with the previous Government’s record where it got rid of about 28 houses a week on average. 
Phil Heatley 
: Is the reason the waiting list has grown by about 1500 families in the last 8 years even though Labour has added almost 7000 State homes that there is a growing underclass in New Zealand? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: There are a number of reasons why the waiting list may have grown. Can I say that if there is to be any answer to that it will lie with this Labour-led Government and not any National Government. 
Phil Heatley 
: Why has the waiting list grown by 1500 families in the last 8 years even though Labour has added 7000 State houses to the housing stock? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: With the introduction of income-related rents we have more people queuing up for State houses. That is part of the issue of providing affordable secure housing to the most vulnerable families in our society. 
Hon Paul Swain 
: Can the Minister confirm that the waiting list would be a lot smaller if National had not sold off 13000 houses when it was last in Government? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: I repeat what I said a moment ago. The reduction of the State housing stock by some 13000 under the previous Government does seem to average out to about the loss of 28 houses per week. That may have something to do with the figures also. 
Phil Heatley 
: Is she then telling the House today that the reason why the waiting list keeps growing even though she keeps on buying houses is the unrealistic expectations Labour has put out into the community; and is she telling us that she is not even going to publicly tell the 6500 families on the waiting list that they will never ever get a State home? 
Hon MARYAN STREET 
: If the member wishes to have a briefing on just how State houses are allocated according to need then I would be very happy to provide him with that information. 
Phil Heatley 
: I have the 1998 waiting list of 8600 and I seek leave to table it. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Phil Heatley 
: I have today’s waiting list of almost 10000 and I seek leave to table that. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.