Auckland relocation grant to end

The Auckland relocation grant will be stopped after increasing state house waiting lists in other towns and cities showed it was just moving housing pressure to other parts of New Zealand, Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford announced today.

“Since the Relocation from Auckland Assistance was introduced in June 2016, there has been an across-the-board increase in the demand for public and private housing, especially in regions and towns close to Auckland.

“This initiative was just shifting the housing problem. It no longer makes sense to support families move to areas where demand is already high,” Mr Twyford said.

From 15 January next year no new applications for the grant will be taken by the Ministry of Social Development.

“This initiative was a rushed and piecemeal response by the former government to the growing number of homeless in Auckland. National had failed to fund this grant beyond the end of this year and so instead of seeking new funding, the Government has decided to discontinue the grant.

“The Coalition Government has a broad housing reform agenda which will increase the public housing stock throughout New Zealand. We will build thousands of new state houses and increase emergency and transitional housing.

“These policies, along with our KiwiBuild initiative to build 100,000 affordable homes in 10 years, will help take the pressure off the state housing waiting list,” Mr Twyford says.

The Ministry of Social Development will continue to provide assistance to people facing barriers to moving to the private rental market, or who need to move town for family reasons or work opportunities.

© Scoop Media

PM's Statement: Deadly Eruption Of Whakaari / White Island

At this stage, we can confirm that amongst those currently listed as missing or injured are New Zealanders who were part of the tour operation, and tourists from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Malaysia. That is to the best of our knowledge.

To those who have lost or are missing family and friends, we share in your unfathomable grief at this moment in time, and in your sorrow. Your loved ones stood alongside kiwis who were hosting you here. We grieve with you, and we grieve with them... More>>

• Ministry For Culture And Heritage - Flag half-masting directive - Whakaari White Island eruption

Police Update: Work Continues On Recovery; Clarification On Investigation
Police has been working with Defence and Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) to determine conditions on the island including gas levels in the atmosphere, so that we can understand the nature of the current conditions...
Police can also confirm we have commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the deaths and injuries on Whakaari / White Island... To correct an earlier statement, it is too early to confirm whether there will also be a criminal investigation. More>>

• NZ Police - Sixth fatality following Whakaari / White Island eruption - Whakaari / White Island - work continues to enable recovery - White Island eruption - eight people unaccounted for
• WorkSafe NZ - WorkSafe investigating White Island work activity

Gordon Campbell: On The Eruption And Tourism Safety
Adventure tourism is a central theme in New Zealand tourism, and by definition, adventure always includes a certain level of risk. That said, New Zealand itself is also at risk of being seen as a tourism destination where commercial factors – rather than safety factors – are routinely allowed to determine the point where the boundary line of acceptable risk is being drawn. More>>