30 July 2013

Housing Hypocrisy Pointed Out by NZ First

Rt Hon Winston Peters has pointed out in Parliament how China does not allow foreigners to buy property while it is “open slather” for citizens of China to buy houses in New Zealand.

Mr Peters asked whether it was fair that Kiwis struggling to buy their first homes had to compete with buyers financed by state owned banks with very low interest rates.

“Why does the Government allow foreigners to buy houses here when New Zealanders are not allowed to buy homes in their country?”

Mr Peters tabled an email from a New Zealander living in China outlining how unfairly he was treated compared to Chinese living in New Zealand.

“If there is a housing crisis in Auckland, what’s xenophobic or racist about insisting that New Zealand’s housing policy should be designed to house New Zealanders first?” asked Mr Peters.

ENDS

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New Court Orders, Screening, Guardianship Changes...: Government Ignoring Poverty, Again

It remains to be seen if announcements today will better protect children, but the National Government is forgoing an opportunity to really help kids by ignoring the elephant in the room, which is poverty, Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei says.

"All the experts have told the Government that very low income is associated with higher rates of child maltreatment and neglect -- something which was totally ignored in the Government's Children's Action Plan and the announcements today," Mrs Turei said. More>>