3. GEORGINA BEYER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Housing
What proposals, if any, has he received about changes to the provision of social housing in New Zealand?
Hon DOVER SAMUELS (Acting Minister of Housing) Link to this
The Housing New Zealand Corporation allocates social housing on the basis of need. Low-income families qualify for an income-related rent. Last month 98 percent of those houses were in that category. I have seen two contradictory proposals this month. One proposal argued that the provision of State houses in National-held electorates was economic vandalism, while the other argued for more money to be spent on housing for low-income families. Perhaps John Key and Anne Tolley should get together and have a conversation.
What other proposed changes to the provision of social housing in New Zealand is the Minister aware of?
Hon DOVER SAMUELS Link to this
I have received feedback from yesterday’s meeting of the Social Services Committee, in which a member of that committee, Mr Clarkson, advocated that the Housing New Zealand Corporation should turf out tenants and instead provide cash grants to needy families so that they can rent from private landlords like himself. I am also informed that the chair of that committee, Judith Collins, moved immediately to clarify that Mr Clarkson, a housing spokesperson for her own party, was not representing National Party policy. So that we can hear a third, contradictory, housing policy from the National Party, I think it is time for the real housing spokesperson, my colleague Phil Heatley, to stand up and tell the House exactly what National’s housing policy is.