10. MOANA MACKEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Housing
What is he doing to address the housing issues raised in the Salvation Army’s recent State of the Nation Report?
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON (Acting Minister of Housing) Link to this
As the Prime Minister appointed me to the role of Acting Minister of Housing only at lunchtime, I guess it will come as no surprise to the House to know that I have not, as yet, read the Salvation Army’s recent State of the Nation Report.
What is he doing to address the urgent issue of homelessness in Auckland, given that more than 20,000 Aucklanders alone are now believed to be homeless?
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON Link to this
I am still waiting on even initial briefing notes to come from my new department. Until I get those, I am not doing anything. [ Interruption]
Mr SPEAKERI ask the member to resume her seat. Members can see what happens when we do things that are out of order. It leads to disorder. I ask the member to please just ask her question, and I ask her colleagues not to interject while she is doing it.
Does he stand by his Government’s response to the report that changes to the Resource Management Act and the Building Act, as well as the Auckland super-city, will fix the homelessness problem, or does he agree with David Zussman from the Monte Cecilia Housing Trust, who said that that response lacks vision and leadership?
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON Link to this
I think it will be no surprise to any member of the House that I stand by the Government’s reaction to the report.
If the Resource Management Act and Building Act reforms are the answer to homelessness, how soon will these homes be available, given that 20,000 people are homeless now, and how many will be priced at an affordable level for someone who is homeless?
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON Link to this
If I could just divert from my portfolio of housing to the building and construction portfolio for a second, and say that only next week we will be launching, in cooperation with the Housing New Zealand Corporation, a new, low-cost house design and a sample home. These things are already under way.