7. TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) Link to this
to the Minister of Housing
Has he received any feedback on the progress Housing New Zealand Corporation is making with the 2008-09 component of the jobs and growth stimulus package announced earlier this year?
Hon PHIL HEATLEY (Minister of Housing) Link to this
Yes. I have been advised by officials that the corporation is well on track with this year’s component of the jobs and growth stimulus package. Out of the $10 million of upgrade work injected, $1.1 million worth was under way as of early March. So far, 285 extra houses have been upgraded that would not have been if we had not injected the money. We are delivering for those families that we found were living in squalor, and had been living in squalor for some years.
I will speak slowly for the benefit of the previous member for Ōtaki. What changes have occurred since the announcement made earlier this year?
Members will be aware that soon after this Government came to office we approved 475 net extra State houses by the end of this financial year. The stimulus package added on 69 extra State houses. Although we had targeted 475 new State houses, and we announced a further 69 new State houses, I asked Housing New Zealand to sharpen its pencil, and now there will be 475 new State houses, plus 86 new State houses on top of that.
Mr SPEAKERThe Māori Party colleagues who came to me had a particular concern about particular areas of significant need across the country. For example, South Auckland was of concern to them. We are adding an extra 94 houses in South Auckland by the end of this financial year, and 18 of them are coming from the stimulus package. We are doing up 186 houses by the end of this financial year, over and above what we would have done. We were very concerned, and the Māori Party members were very concerned, about tenants having lived in squalor for many years, and now they are to live in decent conditions.
Rahui KateneWhat opportunity will there be for iwi to be involved in the jobs and growth stimulus package, and what consultations have taken place with iwi to this effect?
I have met with the co-leaders of the Māori Party on a number of occasions to discuss the benefits of the stimulus package for State house tenants who are Māori, and also for Māori and non-Māori tradespeople. The Māori Party members have local State house areas of concern to them, and I have welcomed their bringing to my attention iwi organisations that they believe could be involved in upgrading many of the State houses and building some of the new ones. That is $101.5 million worth next year. I hope to see some Māori businesses involved in that upgrade work.