Twyford Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeTwyford Phil: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 24 September 2013. Volume:693;Page:13602. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]8.PHIL TWYFORD (Labour—TeAtatū) to theMinister of Housing: Has Housing New Zealand been referring people to live in campgrounds?Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister of Housing): I am advised that Housing New Zealand does not place people in camping grounds but if an applicant has an emergency housing need it will refer them to a list of temporary accommodation providers. The list in Auckland has 21 emergency accommodation providers none of which are camping grounds. I am also advised that in other parts of New Zealandsometimes the list refers to a camping ground. I am further advised that the policy has not changed from the previous Government.Phil Twyford: Is he comfortable that elderly people some as old as 80 are being housed in camping grounds or should they just be thankful for any kind of roof over their heads under National however inadequate and unprotected?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: My view is that camping grounds do not provide an answer for people’s permanent accommodation needs and that wherever possible we should try to accommodate those people in suitable permanent accommodation. That is why this Government with Housing New Zealand has got a record investment and is building more houses than ever but I do say that—Hon Maryan Street: Have you checked out the Nelson camping grounds recently?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: —even in Nelson—as a constituency member of Parliament I have sometimes had emergency housing situations where the appropriate answer is to have somebody in a cabin at a camping ground rather than being out in the cold.Phil Twyford: Has he seen the research done by Dr ChristinaSeverinsen from the University of Otago which suggests that thousands of Kiwis are living in camping grounds because they simply have nowhere else to go; if so does his Government still think those people are making a lifestyle choice to live in a caravan?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Yes I have seen that research. It is very interesting. It is based on 2007 census data—2007 census data. I would not be tempted to measure who might have been the Government in 2007. I will leave that to the House.Phil Twyford: I seek leave to table the research by Dr ChristinaSeverinsen which suggests that thousands of Kiwis are living—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Leave is sought to table that particular research—Phil Twyford: —in camping grounds and it is not based on the census data.Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not necessary. Leave is sought to table that particular research from the University of Otago. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be so tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Phil Twyford: Is he aware that Statistics New Zealand defines people living in camping grounds as homeless and does that make him the “Minister for Homelessness” now that there are 4000 Kiwis on the priority waiting list—4000—which is up 1500 since 2012?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I am advised that the current number on Housing New Zealand’s waiting list is just over 4000. I am further advised that the number in November 2008 was 4300—4300. I also note that the research from the census data defined the number of people as being homeless as being about 35000 at the time of the 2007 census.Phil Twyford: When is he actually going to start providing more houses rather than fewer given that in the last quarter the number of properties sold by Housing New Zealand exceeded purchases by 42 percent demolitions exceeded new builds by 165 percent leases expiring exceeded new leases taken on by a factor of six and the number of State houses has declined by 500 in the last year?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: It may not have been noticed by members opposite but there was a little event in Christchurch involving an earthquake which damaged 5000 properties—5000 properties. I can further advise the member that over the next 3 years Housing New Zealand is investing $2.7 billion—a larger figure than at any time in Housing New Zealand’s history.