7. DARIEN FENTON (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Housing
What reports has he received about support for Housing New Zealand’s flagship affordable housing development at Hobsonville?
Hon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Housing) Link to this
I have seen a report by economist Dr Arthur Grimes, a director of the Reserve Bank, who has endorsed the Hobsonville project as an example of “enhanced leadership” on the issue of providing affordable housing options in Auckland. Dr Grimes appears to be at odds with John Key, who described the project as “economic vandalism”, a description seemingly inconsistent with last Sunday’s keynote address at the National Party conference that called for affordable housing. It would seem a call for action, but obviously not in his own electorate.
What other reports has he seen about plans to redevelop the former Hobsonville air base into affordable and higher-cost housing?
The Hobsonville development has been welcomed by a range of prominent Aucklanders. The Auckland City Missioner describes it and other affordable housing initiatives as commendable; the local mayors say it is our best opportunity yet for Waitakere’s economy to thrive and find solutions to deal with the city’s rapid growth. A pleasing report came from the Greenhithe Residents and Ratepayers Association, which described the vision for Hobsonville as impressive. It must be confusing for John Key, who panders to some prejudice in his own electorate, while simultaneously seeking cheap headlines advocating the same solutions elsewhere.
Pita ParaoneTēnā koe, Madam Speaker. What is the likely effect on house prices and affordability of implementing policies that increase demand, reduce State housing stocks, and largely ignore supply issues?
It would be the same outcome we had in the 1990s when National tried those policies: acute housing distress, leaky buildings, and no decent homes for ordinary New Zealanders.
Is the Minister satisfied that construction at Housing New Zealand’s development at Hobsonville is not expected to begin until at least 2009, nearly a decade after the project began, and does he agree that more affordable housing needs to be made available well before construction is completed in Hobsonville if we are to adequately address the current housing affordability crisis?
I am pleased with progress at Hobsonville. I think it is a very important project, and it requires a lot of consultation with the local community, and a lot of consent processes. But what I can tell the member is that the Government has moved in a whole range of areas, from the Welcome Home Loan, to KiwiSaver, to a piloted shared equity scheme. We have contributed to the supply of affordable homes in high-pressure areas like Hobsonville—and soon Weymouth—and we are supporting community and local government initiatives. Indeed, we have already spent $99 million doing shared partnerships with local government, and just recently announced $220 million for Wellington. These are really fantastic initiatives to try to increase the supply of affordable houses—real homes for real New Zealanders, not empty slogans.
Madam SPEAKER
Judith CollinsI seek leave of the House to show the consistency of Mr Carter’s statements by lodging this document in which he refused to hand over cellphone records to police and refused to sign his police statement when police investigated the “paintergate” forgery from his Prime Minister.
I seek leave to table an article from the New Zealand Herald in which the Auckland City Missioner says that the plan announced by housing Minister Chris Carter to provide more affordable homes for Aucklanders is commendable.
I seek leave to table a newsletter from the Greenhithe Residents and Ratepayers Association, which lauds the Hobsonville development.
Phil HeatleyI seek leave to table a Radio New Zealand transcript in which Chris Carter complains about the time it is taking for his building consent for his bach on Waiheke.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I seek leave to table the census data showing that since Labour has been the Government, homeownership has declined by 5 percent, or 76,000 New Zealanders.