Housing plan a start, but much more needed to meet the scale of the crisis

The Government’s housing announcement is a very small start but it doesn’t go far enough to genuinely meet the scale of the crisis.

“Everyone has a right to a decent, accessible and affordable home that supports their wellbeing and helps them to be a part of their communities,” says Green Party Finance and Urban Development spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.

“Successive governments have allowed speculation to drive up housing prices, and failed to build enough public housing, or support our community housing sector.

“These announcements are a step in the right direction and signal the Government is beginning to front up to the inequality driven by property speculation, but it needs to go further, faster to meet the scale of the housing crisis.

“We welcome the Government identifying and closing a tax loophole which allows investors to deduct mortgage interest costs from their taxable income. This will go some way to discouraging property speculation.

“The increase in infrastructure investment to support new homes must focus on building environmentally sustainable and accessible homes and communities, rather than increasing car-dependent urban sprawl, so people can live in the places where their work, study, and family are.

“The Kāinga Ora debt limit should be increased by $5 billion to actually support Kāinga Ora to build at least 5000 new homes every year, integrated with frequent public transport and active transport connections.

“There are still more tools in the toolbox that the Government can use to stop the accelerating housing crisis. We urge the Government to remove the cap for the bright line test altogether.

“A 10-year cap extension just kicks the can down the road a few years, while property speculators will hold on to their properties until the day after the bright line test is over.

“We should not accept that it will take decades to turn around this housing crisis. The Government has the ability to address both demand and supply of homes in a way that will deliver fairer, greener communities.

“The housing crisis is getting worse by the day. We need bold, transformational action to ensure a soft landing, rather than a housing crash”.

ENDS

Volunteer

The Greens are proud to be driven by passionate people like you. Today we need your help to take action on the biggest issues facing New Zealand.

Action

Save Auckland's Climate Budget

Sign the petition to stop Mayor Wayne Brown's proposal for dangerous cuts to climate and environmental programmes that protect us from extreme weat...

Action

No New Mines 2023

Action

Expand Voting

Now more than ever, young people in Aotearoa are impacted by Government decisions, and they deserve to have a say. We are calling on all Members of...

Action

End Intensive Winter Grazing

Sign the petition to Labour Ministers, to move faster in bringing regulations into force and end intensive winter grazing.

Action

Trains for Climate

Add your name to our open letter urging the Minister for Finance Grant Robertson to save our passenger trains between Wellington, the Wairarapa and...

Action

Healthy Oceans 2022

Join our Healthy Oceans Crew to help us keep the health and protection of our oceans high on the Labour Government’s political agenda.

Action

It's time: A Ministry for Rainbow Communities

Join our call asking the Prime Minister to establish a Ministry for Rainbow Communities that can champion Rainbow issues.

Action

No new mines on conservation land

Sign the open letter asking Labour Ministers to stick to their promise of banning new mining projects on conservation land.

Action

Allow community ownership of our buses

Public transport is an essential service and helps to tackle the climate crisis by reducing our carbon emissions. But there are barriers to communi...

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Finance Announcements

Story

Tax the banks

Instead of creating an appeal fund and one-off lotto draw, the Labour Government could tax the billions of dollars banks have made in unearned, exc...

Urgent action needed to support families

The tools exist to help families with surging costs – and as costs continue to rise it is more urgent than ever that we use them, the Green Party ...

BPS constraints risk impacting low income people the most

The Government will constrain itself unnecessarily at Budget 2023 unless it changes the tax system to raise revenue from the wealthiest few which c...

Case for excess profit tax on banks clearer than ever

The Government should adopt an excess profits tax and use any revenue raised to help people make ends meet, following the rise in the Official Cash...

Tax excess profits, don’t leave it to the good will of large corporations

The Green Party is once again calling on the Government to introduce an excess profits tax and use the money to support people, rather than relying...

RBNZ report strengthens case for excess profit tax and more income support

A drop in household income from rising bank interest rates further demonstrates the need for an excess profits tax, the Green Party says.

Story

Greens join call for immediate rent freeze after floods

The Green Party is joining more than 20 community organisations to call for an immediate rent freeze in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, after reports of ...

HRC report shows need for more action on housing

The Green Party will continue pushing for change to ensure people don’t need to access emergency housing in the first place.

Healthy Homes for all means a WOF and Landlord Register

The Government’s decision to exclude landlords from property management regulations means more than half of Kiwi rentals will be left out in the co...

Crown closes the door for Waimana Housing programme

The Green Party is calling out the Government for its role in Te Waimana Kaaku whānau losing their deposits and the homes they were promised.

Greens back HRC call for immediate rent freeze

The Green Party backs the Human Rights Commission’s call for an immediate rent freeze followed by reform of the rental system to guarantee that eve...

Budget 2022: Greens celebrate landmark investment in climate action

Landmark week for climate action concludes with climate budget Largest ever investment in climate action one of many Green Party wins throughout B...

Story

Housing legislation needs further changes

The Green Party welcomes changes Parliament’s Environment Select Committee has recommended to Labour and National’s housing legislation but says fu...

This is our chance to build a better Wellington

We have a real chance to build resilient, more vibrant communities. Right now there are pivotal decisions being made about the future of Wellingt...

TAKE ACTION

Story

Govt must build on foundation of planning rule changes to solve housing crisis

Families looking for their first home will welcome a bipartisan commitment to increase housing supply, but will be asking what more can be done.

Greens urge Wellington Council to support a Spatial Plan that best addresses the climate and housing crises

The Green Party is urging Wellington City Council to pass an ambitious Spatial Plan that sets Wellington up for action on the housing crisis, allow...

Auckland’s Transport Future

As our biggest city, with well-known transport issues, it’s crucial we act now and ensure people living in Auckland can get where they need to; no ...

FIND OUT MORE

Wellington's Transport Future

Congestion Free Wellington Our Future of Transport Plan includes a comprehensive plan to really get Wellington moving, while reducing our depend...

FIND OUT MORE

Housing plan a start, but much more needed to meet the scale of the crisis

Latest Finance Announcements