National’s housing boom claim laid bare

National’s claim that record numbers of houses are being built is nonsense, the Green Party said today.

New analysis from Statistics New Zealand shows that the number of new houses being consented relative to population is barely above average.

“When John Key says record numbers of houses are being built, he’s just plain wrong,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

“Statistics NZ data is very clear that only half as many houses are being built now compared to the 1970s peak, relative to population.

“In 1974 there were over 39,000 new houses consented even though we only had 3 million people – today we have 4.6 million people but only 29,000 housing consents.

“There aren’t enough homes for people to live in and property speculators are making the houses we do have unaffordable – that’s what’s caused the housing crisis.

“Governments throughout New Zealand’s history have been committed to building houses and making sure everyone has a home to call their own, but National seems to have forgotten that.

“National has chosen to let the housing crisis get this bad, and now they’re choosing not to do the things that could fix it.

“The Government should lead a home-building programme, as well as cracking down on property speculators and restricting overseas buyers,” said Mrs Turei.

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