10. MOANA MACKEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Housing
Will he guarantee that no region will see a reduction in its State housing stock as a result of his decision to put 40,000 State houses up for sale?
Hon SIMON POWER (Minister of Justice) Link to this
The Minister can guarantee that every house sold to a tenant under this scheme will be replaced with a new house. We will probably build the replacement houses in areas of high need. Uptake is likely to be in the hundreds, rather than the thousands. This is a good example of National fulfilling one of its election promises that proved to be pretty popular with the public at the last election.
So that the rest of country can know they are not eligible for the replacement of any State houses sold in their areas, where are these high-need areas?
I am sure that as the policy takes effect and we are able to balance the sale of some of these houses to the tenants who live in them, those questions will become fully and abundantly clear.
If, as the Minister has admitted, some regions will see a reduction in their State housing stock because the rebuilds will be in high-need areas like South Auckland, as the Minister has already indicated, why are 8,218 State houses—75 percent of the Housing New Zealand Corporation’s South Auckland stock—up for sale in South Auckland?
Firstly, I am not sure what the member has against people being able to purchase State houses, or, for that matter, people in South Auckland being able to purchase State houses. Secondly, I have admitted simply that State houses will be replaced in areas of high need.
Te Ururoa Flavell Link to this
Kia ora anō tātou. Has the Minister received any responses from iwi Māori to the possibilities that have opened up from the homeownership of State houses?
The Minister has been advised that this policy has been welcomed by Māori, as 35 percent of State house tenants identify as Māori. This policy will provide them with a further opportunity to move into homeownership, and we look forward to continuing to work with our support partners on this very important initiative.