The Prime Minister should apologise for misleading the country about the Ministry of Social Development’s interactions with homeless people in south Auckland, the Green Party said today.
“John’s Key’s attempt to distract New Zealanders from the Government’s housing failures has threatened the great work that the Salvation Army does with homeless families,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw.
“He went out of his way to try to make these homeless people look bad by saying they declined Government help – the Salvation Army has said that that’s simply not true.
“The Prime Minister owes those people, the Salvation Army and all New Zealanders an apology.
“Homeless people have it tough enough already – they don’t need the Prime Minister to be going out of his way to make them look bad.
“The Prime Minister’s actions are characteristic of a Government that’s papering over the cracks when they should be building houses.
“Unfortunately, National’s denials, deception and inaction on housing are making the crisis worse, and his comments today are yet another example of that.
“Let’s not forget that the Prime Minister’s statements have been proven wrong on the day it was also revealed that more than one in 100 New Zealanders are now homeless.
“New Zealanders are looking to the Prime Minister for leadership on the housing crisis, and once again he’s been found wanting,” said Mr Shaw.
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