With 3,422 people urgently waiting for a place to live and 1,805 empty state homes, New Zealand is heading into another winter of homelessness under National, the Green Party said today. “Last winter New Zealanders were shocked at the extent of homelessness and after a year of the National Government rushing around trying to look like it’s tackling the problem, things are actually getting worse,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei. “The tragic truth that we’re hearing from the people...

Raising the Accommodation Supplement could push rents up as more than a billion dollars flows from the Government’s accounts to landlords over the next few years, according to official advice from the Treasury and DPMC, the Green Party said today. In a report to the Prime Minister from the last time National considered raising the Accommodation Supplement, officials advised that ‘There is a risk that the increased subsidy will lead to an increase in rents.’ This is because landlords may raise...

After years of denying there is a housing crisis and refusing to see government building as a solution, National’s U-turn today is too little too late, the Green Party said today. “Auckland is already 40,000 homes short and needs 15,000 more a year just to keep up with population growth. National’s new policy to build an additional 26,000 homes over the next decade just isn’t enough to fix the problem,” Green Party Co-leader James Shaw said. “It’s taken until election...

Tenancy rules need updating to give families more stability to put down roots in their communities, the Green Party said today. Data released today from the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study highlights that almost half the children in the study live in rental homes. Renters tend to move more than home-owners, which can make it hard for families to plan for early childhood and primary education. “Families need housing stability so they can put down roots in their...

New data shows rising rents are hitting people on modest incomes and beneficiaries in the pocket, while the cost of living for wealthier households is more manageable, the Green Party said today. In the last three months, the cost of living rose 1.4 percent for beneficiaries and 1.3 percent for low expenditure households, compared to just 0.5 percent for high expenditure households, according to the Statistics NZ Household Living Costs Price Index. “Under National, it’s getting harder for people on...

The Green Party’s Home for Life Policy is a way to achieve the social and economic gains of getting people into their own homes, outlined in a new report by the New Zealand Housing Foundation and BERL Economic Research released today. Green Party policy would see thousands of families buy their own affordable home through a progressive ownership rent-to-buy programme. “Home ownership is out of reach for too many working families, and it’s time to turn that around with a...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/91311264/naenae-church-demands-government-action-on-vacant-housing-nz-land

Plans to sell the Tāmaki Housing Association, possibly to overseas buyers, create uncertainty for thousands of Auckland families who have already had their lives and homes shaken up by the Government’s social housing fiasco, the Green Party said today. “We have a housing crisis and the number one priority should be increasing the supply of affordable, state, and community housing, not selling off social housing services,” said Green Party social housing spokesperson Marama Davidson. “People living in Tāmaki and Glen...

House prices keep rising across New Zealand and banks are unable or unwilling to fund new affordable homes in Auckland, the Green Party said today. “The big Australian-owned banks are pulling back on lending to the very types of projects that can provide the most affordable homes in our cities,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said. “The market can’t and won’t solve the housing crisis by itself – that’s why New Zealanders need the Government to step up and build...

Bill English’s state of the nation speech today lacked vision and leaves New Zealanders with a stark choice about the kind of government they want, the Green Party said. “The new Prime Minister didn’t talk about the housing crisis, or stagnant wages, or polluted rivers and lakes. These issues aren’t going to go away – in fact, it’s now clear that the only way to fix them is by changing the Government,” said Green Party Co-leader James Shaw. “New Zealanders...