Housing concerns in Rangitikei

Rangitikei politicians all agree there is a housing shortage nationwide, but one of the solutions presented to a large crowd in Marton received laughter rather than applause.

More than 100 people packed out the Marton Town Hall at a candidates meeting on Thursday, where housing and health were hot topics.

The hall was so full people were left standing, lining the side and rear walls.

Questions submitted showed Rangitikei residents were concerned about the lack of suitable housing in the area.

ACT Whanganui candidate Alan Davidson, who attended in place of his unavailable Rangitikei offsider Neil Wilson, said ACT wanted to get rid of the Resource Management Act to help increase the number of houses being built.

This drew laughter from some of the crowd, who seemed to disagree with the proposal.

Rangitikei MP Ian Mckelvie, of National, said housing was an ever-changing issue. Not long ago in the Rangitikei district the issue was people’s mortgage repayments being more than what their house was worth.

Now, there wasn’t enough houses for people in the area, he said. ‘‘That’s how quickly things change.’’

Maori Party Te Tai Hauauru candidate Howie Tamati said the party wanted to use state houses and convert those not being used into rentals.

Labour Rangitikei candidate Heather Warren said the housing crisis was complex, especially in Rangitikei.

As the cost of housing was rising in Palmerston North, there was a trickle-down effect for towns close by, such as Ashhurst and Feilding. In areas where housing was affordable in Rangitikei, there was then no employment opportunities, she said.

The lack of rental houses was also an issue. ‘‘There are people looking for rental houses that just don’t exist in our area.’’

NZ First Rangitikei candidate Rob Stevenson said his party wanted to make it so only New Zealand citizens or residents could purchase homes.

Te Tai Hauauru incumbent Adrian Rurawhe, of Labour, said building affordable housing was part of finding the solution.

Also, he said the Government needed to stop selling state houses in the middle of a housing crisis.

Greens’ Rangitikei candidate Robin Mccandless said quantity and quality were two of the issues.

The Greens supported rentals needing a warrant of fitness to make sure houses were not making tenants sick.

Another issue that struck a chord with people at the meeting was the shortfall of essential services in their region, such as fire, police and the rescue helicopter, and how candidates would resolve that.

Mckelvie said they knew mental health issues were taking up a lot of emergency services time and he felt it was an issue the Government had not yet worked out how to deal with.