11. TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) Link to this
to the Minister of Housing
What progress is being made on the State housing economic stimulus package announced earlier this year?
Hon PHIL HEATLEY (Minister of Housing) Link to this
Good progress is being made: $20 million has been committed to the new build part of the package. That was for the delivery of 87 new homes, making up to 1,550 new State houses that are being added to the stock over 4 years. Although a handful of properties are yet to be finished due to the usual winter weather conditions, these houses should be finished within the next few weeks. This is 18 more houses over and above what we first announced, because of the new efficiencies in the Housing New Zealand Corporation under this Government.
I am delighted with that question, because under the Healthy Housing component $3 million worth of work has been done on over 200 properties. Also, the corporation has finished, or is completing upgrades on, over 1,600 other State houses. But members should wait; there is more. On average, over 1,000 people each month have been employed since March, and we are now working on the next phase, in which we will upgrade the disgraceful and derelict housing stock that we inherited when we first came into Government.
Moana MackeyHow can anyone take the Minister seriously when he gets up and brags about the number of State houses he is building, given that he has personally stopped the building of 500 State houses in Hobsonville because the Prime Minister does not like them; and how many State houses could be built or renovated for the $1.2 million that is being spent by the Housing New Zealand Corporation every year in Hobsonville in order to be the master developer for what is essentially now a private development?
I think I have previously outlined to the House that the previous Government started the process of Housing New Zealand Corporation being involved in Hobsonville in 2002. There were three elections between that time and now, when no houses were built, no consents were issued, there were no earthworks, and the promise of the 500 houses never came to fruition in 7 years.
How does he think his housing stimulus package compares with the Australian Government’s nearly $8 billion social housing stimulus package, which is saving 15,000 jobs, and does he believe that this has had anything to do with the Australian unemployment rate now holding steady, while New Zealand’s continues to rise?