National's
claim the government is lauding its new housing bill as the
silver bullet to the housing affordability problem is simply
wrong - but it's part of the solution and aspiring
homeowners won't be impressed National voted against it,
says Housing Minister Maryan Street.
The Affordable
Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Bill had its first
reading today and is designed to stimulate the provision of
more affordable housing for first-home buyers and
modest-income families in the rental market.
"Rapidly
escalating property prices have seen the rate of
homeownership fall from 74 per cent to 67 per cent between
1991 and 2006. If the trend continues this rate will fall to
about 62 per cent by 2016.
"New Zealanders are worried
about the issue and want something done as National leader
John Key has himself acknowledged. Yet National voted
against the Bill today, with its MPs complaining about how
it would affect developers rather than focusing on
protecting the long-cherished Kiwi Dream of homeownership,
"Maryan Street said.
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