March 7, 2002

A real success story and the way of the future is how Auckland City's Deputy Mayor David Hay describes the start on a new Housing New Zealand development for the elderly and disabled in Lynfield.

Today the minister for housing Mark Goshe took part in ground-breaking ceremony that will see construction start on the $9 million, 51 unit development.

Councillor Hay who attended the ceremony went on to say, "It is great seeing the government doing what they should be doing and they must be congratulated on the on the way they have worked with the community on this exciting development.

"It is to the government's credit that they have acknowledged their responsibility in providing housing for low-income New Zealanders."

Councillor Hay says it is the sort of solution that Auckland city is working towards for providing accommodation for Aucklanders who need assistance with housing.

"After all it is the rightful responsibility of central government to subsidise housing because central government is funded by every working person who pays income tax.

"It is not the responsibility of local government, which is funded by property taxes which ratepayers have to pay regardless of income.

"In Auckland there are pensioners with mortgages, some of whom struggle to pay their rates and we have a responsibility to keep those rates as low as possible."

Councillor Hay said the council would do that by making sure its attention was turned to roads, stormwater and the many other necessary developments that would make Auckland a better place to live and work.

The Lynfield development was a fine example of central government accepting its responsibility to fund social welfare, he said.

ENDS

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