Carter John: Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Carter John: Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:649;Page:18496] 
JOHN CARTER (National—Northland) 
: 
 There is only one comment we can make about Mr Sio’s speech; one word sums it up and that is “nothing”. It was a zero contribution. What a shame. The sad and unfortunate thing is that— 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Did you think of that yourself? 
JOHN CARTER 
: I tell the member across the House that he certainly would not have done so. He has not the capacity to think of anything. All he thinks of is nothing because that is what is between his ears. 
The unfortunate thing about that contribution and those we have heard so far from the Government side of the House is that this is a serious issue. It is an issue that the Minister of Housing Maryan Street did hope she might achieve something on. She hoped that through this legislation she might make housing a little more affordable for some people. Sadly and unfortunately that will not be the result. The sad fact is that had the Government worked with the industry worked with building firms it could have come up with something that would have been very positive for people on low incomes. It could have come up with good sturdy houses of a smaller size—with three bedrooms but sturdy warm healthy and safe. All those things could have happened. In fact a firm up north right now is looking to put such a house on the market. It is a small three-bedroom home but nevertheless it is a good start-off home. 
Most people in my generation started off in a smaller-sized house then moved up. We have gone away from that in this country because our expectations have grown beyond our ability and we need to get back to the fact that it is actually acceptable for people to start off in smaller-sized homes—something not quite so pretentious that nevertheless allows people to bring their children up safely and healthily. A firm will be putting a house on the market for about $120000—just for the house. That firm is to be commended. The shame of it is that this Government did not think to start working with the firm and to ask it how it could help make that happen. 
Shane Ardern 
: They’ve added $30000 to the price of it. 
JOHN CARTER 
: Well the shame of it is that if the Government had been prepared to look at the whole issue of the compliance costs the National Party certainly would have supported it. Local government now issues building permits. The extra compliance costs for an average-sized home are about $25000 per home. That is a hell of a lot before one even starts building. We also know that compliance costs are imposed on sections because of councils’ obligations under the Resource Management Act. Lianne Dalziel asked earlier who passed that Act: it was passed by the National Government with the support of the Labour Party back in 1991. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: So what is your problem? 
JOHN CARTER 
: She may have forgotten but it was actually a unanimous decision—just so that she understands we are all complicit in the cost of it. She sits there and asks who passed the Resource Management Act: we all did. The sad thing is that this Labour Government actually has had a chance to redress and reform a whole lot of it and the Government has forsaken that opportunity. Well that will be addressed if we are fortunate enough to become the Government after the next election. But the problem in the meantime is that it actually costs on average about $50000 a section now for someone to start subdividing. 
John Hayes 
: At least. 
JOHN CARTER 
: Well yes on average. That is an estimate—it is hard to guess exactly. But it is about $50000 plus $25000 for building so one actually starts off $75000 behind. If we had addressed that issue in this bill maybe we would have made some more progress plus worked with— 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Why didn’t you fix it? You had 9 long years. 
JOHN CARTER 
: Well we have both had 9 long years—and they have been long years. The sad thing is that this Government has done nothing to address it at all. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: You’re making it up. 
JOHN CARTER 
: Well the member over there shoots her mouth off and that is the problem we have. Those members talk a lot and will not listen. She has actually done nothing at all other than chap her gums. If she just listened for a minute she would see that I am actually trying to be constructive but that is not something she is known for. 
The fact is that had we addressed those issues we would have actually seen something positive. Indeed I believe that if we had addressed some of those issues we would have the support of local authorities across the country as well. It is they who tell us of the problems they have. When one talks to local government—and I am sure the members here have and do—one sees that it is bound by rules and regulations that cause it problems in servicing its constituents and ratepayers. That is part of the problem that we should have been addressing in this legislation about affordable housing. Sadly and unfortunately it has not been addressed. I know that members in this House have tried to get round the whole issue of building regulations. Unfortunately it has just got out of control. I was told just recently by a roofer that if he had to follow every rule and regulation set down by the Department of Building and Housing every roof he put on every house would leak. That sort of stuff is nuts and it is that sort of stuff— 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Rubbish! 
JOHN CARTER 
: Well I can get the guy to come and talk with the member. The fact is that if that roofer built according to the law the roofs would leak. The silly thing is that we have people writing rules and regulations who do not know about building. The fact is that sort of stuff is increasing the cost. 
On top of that the unfortunate thing about this bill is that it adds to the continued cost that this Government is imposing on local government. This is just another cost. If the local government bodies pick up this challenge put down by the Government—and most if not all of them will not—then it will just be another cost. If members look at clause 42 they will see that it says that local government bodies have to “contain a summary of the local authority’s affordable housing policy”. Well that means that if they develop an affordable housing policy they have to get consultants in to develop it. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Read the bill. 
JOHN CARTER 
: I am. I am reading it right here. Just for members I say that it says “A long-term council community plan”—I will read it slowly for the member because I know she finds it hard to absorb—“must contain a summary of the local authority’s affordable housing policy if it has adopted one…”. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: “If”! 
JOHN CARTER 
: That is right. I talked about “if”. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: What does “if” mean? 
JOHN CARTER 
: Well did I not make a speech about “if”? Did I not say that that is why it is so silly? It actually means that local authorities do not have to do anything. So why do we have this bill before us at all? The member just argued against herself. The bill says “if” local authorities do it—well most of them will not do it. Most of them will not do it because they know that it will not achieve anything but if they do it it will cost the ratepayers money. If they do it it will cost the homeowner more. The chances are they will not do it; I am sure they will not. 
The only thing that is iffy is that member’s future actually; her ability to continue making these stupid rules is limited thank goodness. But the fact is we have legislation here and the member herself has just asked why we should put this provision in if no one is going to do anything with it. The sad fact is that that is what the bill will end up with—nothing. I started with nothing and this bill will unfortunately end up with nothing.