9. Housing—Supply Affordability and First-home BuyersPHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Minister for Building and ConstructionHousing—Supply Affordability and First-home Buyers9. PHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Minister for Building and Construction: What responsibility does he take for the housing affordability crisis?Hon ALFRED NGARO (Minister for Pacific Peoples) on behalf of the Minister for Building and Construction: The Minister's core responsibilities are for building and construction which also include growing supply and ensuring that our quality assurance systems work. The number of new houses being constructed has doubled from about 13000 to 30000 per year during this Minister's time. This is the result of the strongest growth in residential construction in New Zealand history. The growth in Auckland last year alone—the member may be interested in figures out today—was 27 percent and that is phenomenal growth in anyone's eyes. Phil Twyford: Does he take responsibility for the failure of his policies to deliver houses when despite his promises of thousands of extra consents Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment officials told the Social Services Committee yesterday that only 653 houses were completed by Government-backed building programmes in Auckland last year and that only half of those were affordable? Hon ALFRED NGARO: There is no single Minister responsible for housing issues. There are many more and just as there are a number of Ministers in charge of—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I apologise for interrupting the member but I need to hear the answer. Hon ALFRED NGARO: There are other Ministers who are in charge of the economy and also too around child poverty as well. In regard to the comments that were made about what is the actual number of dwellings that have been delivered in the various Crown projects in 2016 at select committee yesterday—the member's questions—the officials did report this number as 653 houses built in 2016. However the correct number is actually 759. The original figure quoted did not include numbers for the last few months of the 2016 year. Phil Twyford: Does he agree with his officials who told the committee yesterday that only 30 hectares of surplus Crown land will now be built on; if so how did Nick Smith get it so wrong when he promised 500 hectares 2 years ago?Hon ALFRED NGARO: The figure of 500 hectares relates to the total Crown holdings within Auckland not all of which is suitable for redevelopment as housing. Initial estimates by officials placed the likely amount of land available at around 100 hectares. Under the programme the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment has purchased or is close to purchasing approximately 30 hectares with a further 30 hectares in the pipeline. Phil Twyford: Does he agree with independent economist Shamubeel Eaqub who said that Extremely unaffordable housing has had the expected consequences: increased homelessness housing stress for the poor and vulnerable and slipping hopes of middle classes ever owning their own home." and "denials of a housing crisis are now simply lies."? Hon ALFRED NGARO: I am not responsible for the comments of this economist Shamubeel but what I can say is that under this Government it takes its core responsibilities seriously. We spend over $2 billion in regards to housing costs and subsidising those housing costs. We have taken our responsibilities clearly. We know that we have increased benefit levels—by $25—which have not been increased in the last 40 years. We think those are comprehensive in a number of different ways to meeting those needs as well. Joanne Hayes: How are the Government's initiatives helping first-home buyers and the growing of supply? Hon ALFRED NGARO: The Government made significant changes last year to the KiwiSaver HomeStart scheme which is delivering very positive results. The number of first-home buyers accessing KiwiSaver for a deposit grew from 13000 to 30000 in 1 year and the support grew from $200 million to $500 million. This was complemented by a large increase in HomeStart grants to first-home buyers. The special housing areas the new unitary plan the Crown Land Programme and other good initiatives are also contributing to the recent 5 years of growth in housing supply where we have building from 13000 to 30000 per year. Phil Twyford: Does he agree with Bill English that the Government has reached the limits of what it can do when three-quarters of renters cannot afford even the deposit on an average home and rent increases are outstripping wage increases? Hon ALFRED NGARO: I always agree with the Prime Minister. He is a wise man. He made some wise appointments just lately and I think that his wisdom is there. But I would also have to say that National does have a comprehensive housing programme—213 special housing areas have been created nationwide with a projected yield of more than 70000 homes. We have announced nine sites in the Crown Land Programme which will deliver 1500-plus homes. More than 20000 people have received HomeStart grants and more than $89 million has been paid out in subsidies. I could go on but I think that is sufficient to give an indication of the comprehensive plan that under this Government we have in place. Question No. 8 to MinisterDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): I forgot in my earlier enthusiasm. Can I please seek leave to table a document showing that the current level of construction activity is far from New Zealand's largest ever building boom measured by residential—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I just need the source of the document.DAVID SEYMOUR: It is assembled from Statistics New Zealand data by my office.Mr SPEAKER: In that it may be very coherently produced and be valuable information to the House I will put the leave and let the House decide. Leave is sought to table that particular information. Is there any objection? There is not. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House."