Twyford digging holes rather than building houses

Phil Twyford’s credibility as the minister in charge of KiwiBuild is shakier than it has ever been, and it’s time for someone else to step in and clean up the mess he’s made, National’s Housing spokesperson Judith Collins says.

“This past week has shown just how little knowledge the Minister has when it comes to KiwiBuild, as well as the lack of control he has over the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

“It started with his officials claiming the so-called additionality test they use to determine whether to underwrite KiwiBuild homes with taxpayer money is done verbally with developers.

“Then we saw the Minister tell Parliament that ‘extensive documentation’ existed to show the process his officials were following, only for his Ministry to then come out and say no such documentation existed.

“I believe Phil Twyford has misled the public over this issue, and if he cannot provide a satisfactory explanation for these shifting statements then it’s time for him to stand down as the Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

“It’s telling that his Ministry’s chief executive, Andrew Crisp, has also hidden from public view and is refusing to be interviewed on the problems plaguing KiwiBuild.

“These taxpayer underwrites guarantee developers a minimum price for KiwiBuild homes that don’t sell, and this latest fracas has shown the process followed to date before signing off $660 million worth of underwrites has been far from robust.”

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