Green MP Sue Bradford said today she intends calling for a New Zealand Housing Strategy when the Housing Corporation Amendment Bill is debated through its Committee stages at Parliament.

Ms Bradford said a New Zealand Housing Strategy, which would determine the overall direction of Government housing policy, was required in order to ensure that low income people had access to affordable, appropriate and secure housing.

The Green Party shares the concerns of groups like the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services who have argued that housing policy not be made in isolation from health, income and education issues, Ms Bradford said.

"We think that the Corporation should take responsibility for developing a form of New Zealand Housing Strategy which could focus on solving a variety of housing issues, rather than being dominated by too narrow a focus on issues simply around the provision of income related housing

"Policy work in the housing area should not focus solely on state housing supply, but also include ideas on ways forward for a more robust, low cost, long tenure private rental market. On top of this, a national strategy should look closely at options to progress a strengthening local Government and community sector initiatives to provide affordable, quality and accessible housing for low income people.

"Over the years there has been a lack of leadership in housing policy. This is an opportunity for the Government to articulate a long term vision for housing policy.

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