What the main parties think
State housing in Porirua has been a thorny subject during the election campaign. Jim Chipp takes a close look at the issue.
Conservative Party policy spokesman Regan Monahan said his party was not against social housing. It wanted to instigate a rent-to-buy option to allow state housing stock to be replenished.
People should not be ousted from the area where they live, but that did not mean the government should be subsidising their rent when there were others in more urgent need, he said.
Green Party housing spokeswoman Holly Walker said home ownership was a popular goal, but was no longer attainable for many people. Ownership gave people security so children were not frequently changing schools and it encouraged them to improve the quality of their home.
‘‘We can extend those benefits to people who are renting if we have the right policy settings.’’
Labour Party housing spokesman Phil Twyford said National had reduced the number of state houses and allowed thousands to lie boarded-up and empty.
‘‘ In the middle of a housing shortage the obvious thing to do is to build more state houses.’’
Housing New Zealand should be bigger and more capable, and there was a role for housing trusts and other non-government organisations, including iwi.
National says it will continue to ensure a fit-for-purpose social housing sector, and maintain its record on quality state houses for those with the highest housing needs. Community housing providers will be supported and the record $2.9 billion investment over 10 years announced in 2012 will continue.
New Zealand First housing spokesman Denis O’Rourke said housing stock would be reviewed and units that could be quickly refurbished would be re-let until new housing stock could be built.
Housing New Zealand would be instructed to accelerate and expand its building programme in the areas of the greatest need and funded accordingly.
United Future leader and Ohariu candidate Peter Dunne said his party supported the development of social housing projects, collaborating with good social providers and government ownership of a core stock of social housing.
‘‘We are very concerned about the large numbers of state houses being empty while they are earthquake strengthened. I don’t think it’s a good look to have housing shortages and housing stock empty.’’
ACT did not reply by our deadline.