Gosche Mark: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Gosche Mark: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:618;Page:13977] 
11.  
Hon MARK GOSCHE (Labour—Maungakiekie) 
 to the  
Minister of Housing 
: What reports has he received on security and affordability of housing for elderly New Zealanders living in State houses? 
Hon RICK BARKER (Acting Minister of Housing) 
: I have received reports focusing on the fact that 300 Housing New Zealand tenants have been in a particular house for 50 years or more and stating quite categorically that that is “unacceptable”. What the report did not say was that these people are generally in their 80s—honest decent New Zealanders in their twilight years—who are proud to call a State house their home. If the policy were implemented it would see these people dumped on the street as they simply could not afford a new house. I am shocked that our senior citizens are being attacked in this way by the Hon David Carter on behalf of the National Party. 
Hon Mark Gosche 
: What other reports has the Minister received on housing security for vulnerable New Zealanders? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I have received further reports that State house tenants with substantial assets or income should be told to move. I was particularly interested in those reports for three reasons. Firstly 90 percent of all State house tenants are on income-related rents as their income is low. The remaining 10 percent pay market rents. Secondly higher-income earners were the very people who were encouraged into State houses by the previous National Government’s policy. Thirdly this proposal appears to be yet another policy flip-flop for Don Brash whose party encourages those people into State houses now and wants them out later. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The last part of the Minister’s answer he has no responsibility for. 
Hon David Carter 
: Does the Minister think it is desirable to trap people in welfare dependency by abolishing the previous Government’s home-buy scheme thereby denying a State house tenant in Manurewa currently earning over $80000 a year the opportunity of purchasing that State house and making it his own? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: This party does encourage people into buying houses and this is why we have a relationship with Kiwibank. But what this Government will not do is have the mass sell-off of State houses undertaken by the National Party—13000 State houses sold off and that party opposite cries crocodile tears about the people who cannot get a State house. There are fewer of them because of the 13000 State houses sold off by the National Party. 
Sue Bradford 
: Does the Minister accept that State housing overall including State housing for the elderly is in decline as a proportion of the overall rental market and does he realise that the decline in social housing combined with increases in the accommodation supplement is simply pushing up rents around the country? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I accept that there is a decline in the number of State houses as a proportion of the total amount of houses. I do accept that homeownership is a declining option for many people. What this Government is intent on doing is increasing the stock of houses as fast as it can so that those people who cannot afford a rental house can be taken care of by the State system. I have to say that it will take a long time to claw back the 13000 houses sold by the National Party. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I seek leave to table the quite excellent press release from National’s housing spokesperson setting out National’s disappointment that so many people are in State houses for so long in contradiction to the claims made by the Minister. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that press release. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Hon Mark Gosche 
: What are implications for elderly State house tenants of the policy suggestion that it is “unacceptable” for them to remain in their homes unless they buy them? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: Clearly the implication of such a policy suggestion is that elderly State house tenants will be forced from their homes as they are unlikely to have the cash to buy them. Even though this Government has reversed the pension cuts the previous National Government made the relatively modest level of income for those on the basic pension means that they will be unable to purchase their houses. State house tenants are on clear notice that in the unlikely event that those making these unacceptable suggestions—the National Party—were to be elected into Government their homes would be gone by lunchtime. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That was going too far.