Little has big plans for Queenstown
Labour is pledging to build 1000 affordable houses in Queenstown over the next decade as part of its KiwiBuild policy to build and onsell 100,000 homes over the next 10 years.
The houses would cost up to $500,000 each, leader Andrew Little said.
‘‘These will be good, modern starter homes, sold at cost to first home buyers. Three-bedroom homes in terraced housing will cost $500,000 with smaller houses costing less. That will put home ownership back in the reach of young couples and vital workers like police and teachers who are being priced out of Queenstown,’’ he said.
Labour has said 50,000 of its planned 100,000 KiwiBuild homes would be in Auckland to address the shortage there.
It has also announced smaller site-specific projects in Lower Hutt and Hamilton.
Little said Labour would work with Queenstown-Lakes District Council, iwi, and the Community Housing Trust to build the houses.
‘‘Housing in Queenstown is at crisis point and we all need to work together to tackle the problem.’’
He said Labour’s planned Affordable Housing Authority and KiwiBuild would cut through red tape to get them built quickly.
The KiwiBuild policy does not include rental housing.
But Little said Labour also wanted to get new affordable rental accommodation built in the town for key workers vital to its economy.
‘‘We will work as quickly as possible to get housing built on the site of Wakatipu High School, once it moves to its new campus. Getting those houses built will be our first priority in Queenstown.’’
Seasonal workers’ needs also needed to be addressed.
‘‘Instead of leaving these workers to sleep three to a room in substandard conditions, Labour will work with the council and employers to deliver decent accommodation similar to a student hall of residence.’’