9. TARIANA TURIA (Co-Leader—Māori Party) Link to this
to the Minister of Housing
What progress, if any, has been made in reducing the people living in crowded housing statistics, noting that the Social Report 2005 stated 10 percent of the New Zealand population were living in crowded housing?
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Housing) Link to this
When Labour took office the number of State houses in New Zealand had declined by approximately 13,000 under the previous National administration, despite mounting demand, poverty, and increased rates of overcrowding. Since January 2000 the Government has added almost 6,000 State houses to the housing network and has introduced income-related rents, all of which assist in alleviating the levels of overcrowding.
Would the Minister consider that the substandard housing and overcrowding crisis identified in the Northland, East Cape, and Bay of Plenty areas in the early years of the current Labour Government has been addressed; if not, why not?
Progress has been made in the areas that the member has just mentioned—indeed, she herself was responsible from 10 December 1999 to 30 April 2004 for implementing the Government’s policies in that areas mentioned. We have made progress, but increasing land values and the scarcity of skilled labour in the areas mentioned have restricted the achievements we would like to have made. But over 1,600 houses have been improved in those rural areas.
Dr Ashraf Choudhary Link to this
Does the health of tenants in State houses improve once they move from the Housing New Zealand Corporation waiting list to State houses?
Yes. The Housing, Crowding and Health study just published by the University of Otago shows that the health of tenants in State houses improves significantly once they move from the waiting list to a State house. The study found that acute hospital attendances were 10 percent lower in Housing New Zealand Corporation tenants compared with those on the waiting list for such a house. That is why this Government has placed such an emphasis on providing more housing.
Phil HeatleyWill the Minister undertake to change Labour’s fundamentally flawed policies that allow people with $70,000, $80,000, and $90,000 after-tax incomes to remain in State houses, and that allow State house tenants to have three, four, or five boarders in their spare rooms, in order to start addressing the human and health costs of the blowout in the Housing New Zealand Corporation waiting list?
Madam SPEAKER—wealthy tenants were encouraged to move into State houses, because they were the only ones who could afford market rents. Under this Government, 98 percent of new tenants are paying income-related rents—these are people with high housing needs.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I asked the Minister whether he would change Labour’s policies, which he has responsibility for—and for which he has had responsibility for nearly 7 years now—that have allowed thousands and thousands of people to languish on the waiting list while people in State houses are earning $70,000, $80,000, or $90,000 after-tax and are renting out their rooms to boarders. I asked the Minister whether he will change that flawed policy; I did not ask him about what National did nearly 7 years ago.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
The Minister made it perfectly clear that he was not going to because, under the existing policies, 98 percent of those now entering State housing are people on low incomes. Under the previous National Government’s policy, one had to have $70,000, $80,000, or $90,000 even to be able to afford to get into a State house.
Both members have had an opportunity to address the point of order. The Minister was in the process of addressing the question. I think we should hear the Minister’s full answer to the question.
Gerry BrownleeI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. With all due respect, the Minister did start the question with a very provocative statement, which you noted because of the noise level in the House. I thought you had previously instructed Ministers to give answers in a concise way so that we do not have that sort of disruption in the House. After all, those Ministers are supposed to be responsible for their portfolios and for what is happening now.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
I watched very carefully what happened in that case. The outburst of noise erupted as members on the National Party benches woke up when the Minister said “under the previous National Government”. If the words “under the previous National Government” are regarded as being provocative, then I am not quite sure what words we are allowed to use in this House.
Certainly, I agree with the member that it would be appreciated by everyone if both questions and answers were delivered concisely. However, I ask the Minister to complete his addressing of the question that was asked.
We are encouraging Murray McCully’s tenants to move on. We are actively seeking to place more of the people on the waiting list into State houses. [ Interruption]
Mr Brownlee, I am addressing an issue. I would like the Minister to please answer the question without making those provocative comments. He should just stick to answering that question.
We have invested almost $2 billion since 1999 in housing. We have built almost 6,000 new houses. We are actively promoting a programme that leads to decent housing for all New Zealanders.
Hone HarawiraWhy has there been no response to the case of Mrs Atareiria HeiHei of Takou Bay, who approached Housing New Zealand Corporation 10 months ago regarding the overcrowding in her home, where 14 people were confirmed by the housing support coordinator for the Ministry of Social Development to be living there, and where the issues identified were privacy, health, emotional stress, hygiene, and sanitation; does the Minister consider a 10-month delay to be an appropriate time frame to address such serious issues?
I would really welcome the opportunity to talk to the member about that particular case, and I ask him to see me at the end of question time.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Is it not a fact that the reason why the Housing New Zealand Corporation can do nothing in Takou Bay is that it has no residential properties for rent there?
Supplementary question, Tariana Turia. [ Interruption] Tariana Turia has been called. She is entitled to ask her question in silence.
What response will the Minister give to Miss Dawn HeiHei of Takou Bay, whom the Kaitāia Family Start worker referred to Housing New Zealand Corporation for urgent rental accommodation, particularly when the corporation’s offices in Whangarei and Kaikohe have been advised that one of the corporation’s properties in Takou Bay is being used as a holiday home for one family?