National's Housing spokesperson David Carter today said it is impossible to tell exactly how many people are waiting for a Housing New Zealand home because of the shambles surrounding the HNZ waiting list.

"For months now I have asked the Minister of Housing for information regarding the number people waiting for a needs assessment to go on the waiting list for a HNZ home, only to be fobbed off with farcical answers.

"I had to use the Official Information Act to obtain national figures for December 2000 but the Minister cannot or will not provide subsequent information.

"Various answers given by the Minister confirm that the information is available nationally and regionally. However when asking for the information I am told that it is not possible to provide it within the timeframe required or that data isn't available at all.

"I find it incredible that HNZ would not have up to date information on how many people are waiting for a needs assessment.

"I can only conclude that HNZ is in a shambles trying to manage the Government's Income Related Rents policy and the Minister is desperately trying to cover up just how bad it is.

"Once again, I have resorted to using the OIA to try and gain access to this information," David Carter said.

Ends

Summary of written question answers received from Housing Minister Mark Gosche

Below are examples of the run-around David Carter has been getting in replies to written questions. In most instances the Minister admits the information is available, then he says he needs more time, then, a month or so later, he says that the information is not available in the form requested!

Mr Carter has been trying to determine how many people are waiting to be assessed to go on the HNZ waiting list:

Information obtained from HNZ under the OIA on 28 February revealed that 2,572 people were awaiting a needs assessment as at 31 December 2000.

W.Q 001489: Does HNZ hold any information on how many people are currently waiting to be assessed to determine whether they are eligible to go on the waiting list for a HNZ home?

Answer received 28 February: Information is available nationally or by regional segment.

W.Q 002254: How many people are waiting to be assessed in each regional segment?

Interim answer received 26 March: It has not been possible to provide info by due date, undertake to provide library and Member with copy once it is available.

Answer received 4 May: HNZ reporting systems do not allow the info requested to be provided in the form requested.

W.Q 001491: Does HNZ hold any information on how many assessments for eligibility to go on the waiting list for HNZ homes have been performed?

Answer received 8 March: Above requested information is available on either a national basis or by four regional segments.

W.Q 002252: How many assessments for eligibility have been made, by regional segment, since Dec 2000?

Interim answer received 26 March: It has not been possible to provide information by due date, undertake to provide library and Member with copy once it is available.

Answer received 4 May: HNZ reporting systems do not allow the information requested to be provided in the form requested.

W.Q 001498: What is the total number of people waiting to be assessed by HNZ to determine whether they are eligible to go on the HNZ waiting list?

Interim answer received 8 March: It has not been possible to provide information by due date, undertake to provide library and Member with copy once it is available.

Answer received 4 May: HNZ reporting systems do not allow the info requested to be provided in the form requested.

WQ 002173: Do HNZ neighbourhood units capture the number of people waiting for a needs assessment in their area, if not why not?

Answer received 23 March: HNZ does not have systems in place to record this information by neighbourhood unit.

WQ 002335: Do HNZ neighbourhood units capture the number of people waiting for a needs assessment in their area, if not why not?

Answer received 28 March: HNZ's neighbourhood units do record the numbers of people awaiting a needs assessment in their area.

W.Q 003699 - 003702: How many people, by neighbourhood unit, were waiting for needs assessments in December 2000, January 2001, February 2001 and March 2001?

Interim answers received 16 April: It has not been possible to provide information by due date, undertake to provide library and Member with a copy once it is available.

Answers received 4 May: HNZ reporting systems do not allow the info requested to be provided in the form requested.

ENDS

© Scoop Media