1. Housing Affordability and Availability—Prime Minister's StatementsPHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Prime MinisterORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSHousing Affordability and Availability—Prime Minister's Statements1. PHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Prime Minister: Did he as Minister of Finance in 2010 tell Major Campbell Roberts of the Salvation Army that Auckland faced a looming housing crisis; if so why?Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Prime Minister) on behalf of the Prime Minister: I do not recall exactly what was said in many conversations with Major Campbell Roberts all those 7 years ago. We have always acknowledged that housing is a challenge and we have been working hard to increase supply. I would note that at the time of that conversation with Major Roberts around 3000 houses a year were being built in Auckland. That figure is now 10000 houses. Since 2010 we have seen the new Auckland Unitary Plan special housing areas permanent funding for emergency housing the Housing Infrastructure Fund more tools for the Reserve Bank the Crown building programme in Auckland—all part of a range of measures that the Government is doing to address those.Phil Twyford: Does he accept that Major Campbell Roberts of the Salvation Army is telling the truth? Hon PAULA BENNETT: As I have indicated I cannot remember the exact conversation from 7 years ago. Phil Twyford: If he knew there was a housing crisis in 2010 but concealed it why does he not now accept that we have a housing crisis given that Auckland house prices have nearly doubled since 2010 and we have now what the Salvation Army calls the worst homelessness in living memory? Hon PAULA BENNETT: Back in 2010 I then as the Minister of Finance actually called together a group predominantly from Auckland including Major Campbell to predominantly look at social housing and the reforms that needed to happen there and concerns around what was happening with the accommodation supplement as well as the income-related rents. With State houses being the monopoly of Government we were actually wanting to see community housing organisations come in. So we have always appreciated Major Roberts' contribution to housing in New Zealand particularly with the Government in those reforms. Denis O'Rourke: Does he agree with a high-profile New Zealander who said that the home affordability crisis" had reached "dangerous levels" and "looks to get worse" and "threatens our economy"? Hon PAULA BENNETT: I am not known for agreeing with Winston Peters.Denis O'Rourke: I seek leave to table the text of a speech given on 21 August 2007 by John Key which contains the quotes I mentioned. Mr SPEAKER: I suspect it is relatively publicly available but I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table that particular speech. Is there any objection? There is objection. Phil Twyford: Does the Prime Minister agree with Paula Bennett when she said that for those people without a house "it is a crisis without doubt."? Hon PAULA BENNETT: I do normally agree with Paula Bennett because she is generally right but not always. What I—Grant Robertson: This time? Hon PAULA BENNETT: —yes—would say is that for individuals who do not have housing it is without a doubt a real challenge for them and something that this side of the House is absolutely counted on. We are the first Government to actually put money into emergency housing organisations and make sure that they are funded. We are actually committed to 34500 new homes over the next 10 years and I note that actually with the announcement from Amy Adams we will see 12000 new homes in Auckland over the next 3 years. Those homes we have got the land for; we know where they are being built. However I saw an announcement by Labour on the TV yesterday morning that it was not planning to do 15000 homes as part of its—Mr SPEAKER: Bring the answer to a conclusion. Hon PAULA BENNETT: —building programme throughout the whole country and so it actually cannot—Mr SPEAKER: Bring—Hon PAULA BENNETT: —deliver. Phil Twyford: If the Prime Minister agrees with Paula Bennett that one person without a house is a crisis for them does he agree that 41000 homeless people and hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders living in housing stress and a generation of young Kiwis locked out of the housing market add up to a housing crisis? Hon PAULA BENNETT: Let us note the differences between the two sides of the House. While you argue about language we will get on with the action of actually delivering for New Zealanders. Phil Twyford: Can he reassure the House that the Salvation Army will not under the Government's Ngaro doctrine face funding cuts or other pressure to shut down criticism of this Government's failed housing policy? Hon PAULA BENNETT: As a Christian organisation it will accept an apology unlike that side of the House. Phil Twyford: Is the truth not that he has denied there is a housing crisis and done as little as possible about it because as former Prime Minister John Key said he thought that many Aucklanders were feeling wealthier because of rising housing prices? Hon PAULA BENNETT: I will any day at any moment put our housing policy—our record of what we have accomplished on this side of the House—up against yours Mr Twyford. For example our building programme that was just recently announced had 12000 houses in Auckland over the next 3 years. These houses are fully funded and plans are already in place—[Interruption]—as opposed to a rushed announcement on the AM show—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is simply no point in continuing answering the question when the people who asked the question are not interested in listening."