Housing Minister must act to help Queenstown housing trust

Labour is calling on Housing Minister Phil Heatley to step in to help the Queenstown Lakes Community Trust in order to ensure that it can continue to provide affordable housing, Housing spokesperson Moana Mackey says.

“The Trust which has helped 35 families in to their own homes has been stripped of its charitable status and now faces a $2.5 million tax bill over the next five years,” Moana Mackey said.

“Clearly if Phil Heatley wants the community housing sector to grow as he has publicly claimed then he must act quickly.

“Failing to act threatens what little third sector we have in housing. We don't need to wait for a committee to say what needs to happen. We need a government prepared to take decisive action and quickly.

“If the Minister fails to act then the trust will inevitably be able to provide fewer homes,” Moana Mackey said.
“National has already axed Housing New Zealand’s Shared Equity Scheme that aims to improve housing affordability. This make’s organisations like Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust all the more important.

“If Phil Heatley fails to act to help this housing trust then clearly the National Government’s claims about wanting to increase the amount of community housing will be shown to be nothing more than empty rhetoric,” Moana Mackey said.

ENDS

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