English in state of denial over regional housing crisis

Housing New Zealand Minister Bill English’s confirmation that HNZ will declare surplus housing stock in Dunedin and other regional centres is penalising the increasing number of families struggling on low incomes to afford private market-based rents,” says Dunedin South MP Clare Curran.

This follows the recent Government announcement to sell off up to one-third of the country’s state houses.

Figures released to my office under the Official Information Act showed that 33 HNZ properties were vacant in Dunedin for the month of October. Yet constituents are coming into my office on a regular basis with urgent housing needs and tales of waiting list times of up to 8 weeks.”

“The private rental market is becoming less affordable for those on low and fixed incomes.

“All over regional New Zealand there has been a significant increase in vacant state housing stock, yet waiting lists continue to grow and significant housing needs continue to not be met. It’s a Catch-22 situation.

“Figures obtained under OIA in May show that up to a third of Dunedin’s state housing stock (almost 500 houses) is due to be lost in the next decade. This is a sad indictment on the lack of growth in our region at the hands of this government.”

“At the time, the Minister was in a state of denial, saying it was not a plan but just statistical modelling. Now the tables have turned, with the Minister confirming the likely losses of state houses in regional New Zealand, as the Government plans to shift housing stock to Auckland or sell it off entirely.

“This will only serve to further deepen the housing crisis in our regions.

“My colleague Phil Twyford, Labour’s Housing Spokesperson, has launched a petition to save our state houses. I urge all those who are concerned about the state of our housing to sign the petition and make our collective voice heard” Clare Curran said.

The petition has already attracted more than 10,000 signatures in just one week.

Phil Twford’s petition can be found here: http://action.labour.org.nz/save-our-state-houses

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