5. Question No. 5—Housing (Public Housing)Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)Question No. 5—Housing (Public Housing)5. Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing): Why did the Government prohibit residential rent increases last year in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 and will it do the same this year?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance) on behalf of the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing): Since the 2020 lockdown the Government has made a number of changes to the Residential Tenancies Act in order to better support renters. This includes limiting rent rises to once a year. This came into force in August after the previous lockdown. If a tenant thinks that their rent is too expensive and not in line with market rent then they should go to the Tenancy Tribunal to request a rent reduction. The Tenancy Tribunal is continuing to operate and is hearing matters by phone rather than adjourn as it did last lockdown. Anyone who has had a reduction in income due to COVID-19 or is struggling to pay their rent or other housing costs should contact Work and Income to seek what support is available.Hon Julie Anne Genter: Does she agree with the advice she received from officials that the new once-a-year limits on rent increases do not prevent unaffordable rent increases; they only standardise them?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Minister the purpose of that clause was to prevent multiple increases in rent to prevent unexpected increases in rent which obviously would be very challenging for somebody when their income was reduced.Hon Julie Anne Genter: Can she confirm median rents have increased approximately 8 percent between the end of the 2020 rent freeze and the start of the most recent COVID-19 outbreak a time when interest rates have declined?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Minister I can't confirm that information. What I can confirm is in the most recent Stats New Zealand rental price index for June 2021 the stock measure of rental prices increased 3.1 percent and the flow measure 4.9 percent.Hon Julie Anne Genter: Has she seen reports that two-thirds of people who rent saw their income drop due to the COVID-19 lockdown and if so what initiatives has the Government taken to respond to the needs of those people?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well a number of initiatives: obviously the wage subsidy scheme the support that's being provided through programmes like the COVID income relief payment that followed on from the lockdown last year. For low-income earners we've seen the increases to benefits and also access to other supports there—Work and Income.Hon Julie Anne Genter: Can she confirm that not all renters will be eligible for the Ministry of Social Development's Work and Income hardship support that she's referenced?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: I can confirm that not every person who rents would be eligible for that. That's correct. We have some people on very high incomes in New Zealand who do rent. But what I can say is that support is available for those on low incomes and those who are struggling to make ends meet.Hon Julie Anne Genter: Is she concerned that the current Residential Tenancies Act is allowing significant rent rises and leading to increased inequality as a result of the COVID-19 lockdowns and will the Government do anything about it?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: On behalf of the Minister the Government and the Minister constantly keep an eye on what's happening in the rental market and how the Residential Tenancies Act interacts with that.