26 July 2015

Nats miss another opportunity to fix housing crisis

National has missed another opportunity to fix the Auckland housing crisis, with nothing in John Key’s speech to tackle it, says Labour’s housing spokesperson Phil Twyford.

“First home buyers are drowning under the ever rising tide of Auckland house prices. And time after time the Government has refused to get serious about the problem.

“Everybody knows the way to fix this problem is to build vast numbers of affordable houses for first home buyers, and ban foreigners from buying existing houses. Half measures and tinkering are not going to cut it.

“There was nothing in John Key’s speech today which will cool the rampant property speculation. Nothing to help first home buyers get a foot on the housing ladder.

“Instead, we get musing about more taxes, and a minor announcement about immigration. The Government’s housing policy is a mess and every day Auckland house prices increase and the shortage of houses gets worse.

“This is a Government with its hands in its pockets and its head in the sand,” says Phil Twyford.

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