3. GORDON COPELAND (Independent) Link to this
to the Minister of Housing
Is the Minister taking note of the evidence being submitted to the Commerce Committee housing affordability inquiry; if so, will she be taking that evidence into account in framing her policy response to the issue of severe housing unaffordability for New Zealand’s families?
Hon MARYAN STREET (Minister of Housing) Link to this
Yes, as far as the Standing Orders allow. I will consider the report when it is reported back from the Commerce Committee.
Is the Minister aware that evidence submitted to the Commerce Committee by Motu Economic and Public Policy Research indicates that land just inside Auckland’s metropolitan urban boundary is worth between eight and 13 times more than land just outside, much of it held by land bankers; if so, will she consider making such arbitrary interventions in the supply of land illegal, to drive down section prices?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
The Government is considering a range of measures, particularly in the Auckland area, to deal with the issue of land affordability, which goes to the question of housing affordability. All possibilities will be considered and taken into account, and comment on them will be made in due course.
Hon Steve Maharey Link to this
What specific initiatives is the Labour-led Government exploring to make houses more affordable and accessible?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
A lot of great work is happening—in fact, too much to mention here in a short time, but I will give a couple of examples. I expect to introduce the Affordable Housing Bill to the House soon, and that will enable councils to ensure that affordable housing is developed; KiwiSaver will soon allow first home buyers $10,000 to put towards their home; and the Welcome Home Loan scheme has already helped over 3,000 applicants secure a mortgage.
Pita ParaoneWill the Government consider tax incentives to help Kiwis buy their first home as part of a package to help improve housing affordability, and will the Government also consider measures advocated by Australia such as tax-free savings accounts for first home deposits?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
The Labour-led Government has already introduced tax concessions for savings in the form of KiwiSaver and, of course, the KiwiSaver savings can be diverted into a deposit for a first home purchase.
Does the Minister accept the evidence of Demographia that development levies charged under the Local Government Act are, in reality, new house purchaser infrastructure charges, which add thousands of dollars to the cost of a new home, and does she intend to bring that flawed process to an end in her policy review?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
Demographia is well recognised as a reputable organisation. Certainly the points that it made in its submissions already to the Commerce Committee will be taken into account. I presume the select committee will give all of the submissions that have been presented to it on this issue considerable weight and discussion, and I look forward to its response.
Is the Minister aware that the Registered Master Builders Federation has informed the committee’s inquiry that, as a result of the Building Act, although it needs just four or five pages of plans to build a new single-storey family home, it now needs 12 to 13 pages of plans to obtain the building consent; if so, will she give this unnecessary and expensive over-regulation the chop?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
Yes, I am aware of those issues raised, and my colleague the Hon Shane Jones is working on those matters.
Phil HeatleyWhy is it that housing unaffordability, average house price to average income, interest rates, and land prices, have all rocketed since 2000, well over and above the increases in the 1990s?
Hon MARYAN STREET Link to this
There are a number of factors that contribute to those items that the member opposite has just listed. Some of them are clearly to do with the increased growth and economic position of the country, but the fact that people are wealthier is one of the very considerable contributing factors.
Madam SPEAKER