As predicted by National yesterday, this Government's housing policy has slashed the value of Housing New Zealand by $465 million in the Crown Financial Statements, National's Housing spokesman Tony Ryall said today.

"The Governments illogical ban on the sale of empty State Houses is the main contributor to the $465 million loss of value in Housing New Zealand.

"The sooner Mr Gosche realises that there is no point in having empty State Houses in areas of low demand when new houses are needed in places like Auckland the better for low income families in New Zealand.

"Mr Gosche should just admit that he was wrong in opposing State House sales and allow empty State House sales to go ahead in areas of low demand.

"Housing Minister Mark Gosche has previously claimed that there would not be a write down in taxpayer value in Housing New Zealand as the Government would compensate Housing New Zealand for the loss in value as a result of Labour's housing policies.

"Mr Gosche must justify to the 280,000 low income New Zealanders that won't benefit from his Income Related Rents policy why state houses are sitting empty in other areas of New Zealand when they can't get one in their area.

"It's about time the Government told us how many State Houses they intend to build for low income families. All Labour has done since they came into office is oppose State House building programmes 'in their backyard'. Not one extra State House has been built since Labour came into Government," Mr Ryall said.

Ends

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