Housing a vote catcher: Survey

A good policy on the nation’s housing issues will be a major drawcard for Kiwi voters this election.

A survey of voters has indicated almost two-thirds will consider housing policy as they head to the polling booths on September 23.

The Property Institutecommissioned survey showed 58 per cent felt housing was important or very important and a further 8 per cent said it would determine how they voted. Less than a third, 32 per cent, felt housing was “not an issue”.

The survey, conducted by Curia Market Research, has a margin of error of 3.2 per cent.

Property Institute chief executive Ashley Church said the results indicated housing policy could be a “vote clincher” because “nearly one in 10 Kiwis are saying that housing policy will decide their vote”. Labour Party supporters appeared most likely to view property as a pertinent issue, making up 12 per cent of those who said it would determine their vote; followed by the Greens (10 per cent) and National and NZ First (5 per cent).

Church said parties were acutely aware of the importance of housing and all were spending time and effort on their policies.

However, he cautioned against believing there will be any quick-fix solution. “Solving the supply shortage requires massive involvement by the private sector — and the policies I’ve seen to date either don’t acknowledge this need, or propose ideas that will actually make the problem worse.

“Getting people building houses is the Holy Grail solution — and no party has yet come close to anything which will achieve it,” he said.

HTo read what the politicians said go to nzherald.co.nz