14 March, 2001 Media Statement

Waiting list reviewed – state houses now allocated according to need

Under the Social Allocation System the existing waiting list for state houses is being reviewed to make sure applicants still wish to be on it, Housing Minister Mark Gosche announced today.

"All state houses are now allocated on need – this was not the case under the previous Government. People on the old waiting list - the majority of whom had applied under the previous Government's system - now need to know this and to decide whether they still wish to remain on the list," he said.

"All applicants need to understand that state houses are now allocated first to those at risk and in serious housing need."

"Already since the Government's new social allocation system was introduced in December, 2000 around 2,500 families with urgent housing needs have been housed in a Housing New Zealand property."

The new social allocation system means that the waiting list is actively reviewed. The process of reviewing applications on the waiting list received prior to 1 December, 2000 is expected to be completed by the end of April, 2001.

Since December, 2000 applicants on the old waiting list have been contacted and asked if they wish to remain on the waiting list and be assessed under the new social allocation system. If they do not respond within a specified time frame their applications will cease. However tenants have the opportunity to reapply at any time.

As a result the waiting list has declined due to a number of applicants from the old waiting list either: indicating they no longer required housing; or are unable to be contacted. The waiting list has also declined due to applicants being housed.

As at 28 February, 2001 the Housing New Zealand waiting list had 9,058 applicants.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>