Housing Policy Debate 7 June 2017

Political spokespeople were asked what is required to end the housing crisis in New Zealand.

Expert commentators included: Hurimoana Nui Dennis, from Te Puea Marae, Philipa Howden- Chapman of He Kainga Oranga/ Housing and Health, Major Campbell Roberts of the Salvation Army and Stephen Selwood, of Infrastructure NZ gave their view on whether the responses would “move the needle” in the right direction.

The purpose of the event was to focus attention on what is required to significantly move the needle towards ending the housing crisis, so that All New Zealanders are well-housed.

Here is some background to this event.

The questions that were posed to the political parties were:

1.Is the current policy of housing only “those with the greatest need, for duration of their need only” the right setting? Is this contributing to homelessness and masking the range of housing solutions needed?

2.What sort of national and regional housing policies would be required to activated the full housing affordability continuum, to “meet all housing need, with the most effective tool”?

3.What would the interventions look like if they were to deliver on all housing need, with affordability, habitability, accessibility, security of tenure and cultural appropriateness?

4.What best delivers the retention of affordability over time? What roles should the community housing sector play? Local Government? Central Government?

5.Is addressing income inequality the way to address housing affordability and what mechanisms would be best used? Would further income supports be an alternate to an improved Accommodation Supplement, or would both be needed to work together?

6.How do communities take control of housing decision in their area so they get the best outcomes?

7.What would you do to support households in the ‘missing middle’ of the housing affordability continuum, an aspirational pathway for all social renters providing motivation to try to become more self-sufficient and more independent?

8.We know that housing quality – warm and dry homes- significantly improve health outcomes. What investment do we need to make to raise the standard of all housing?

See the media release here:

Media release housing policy debate final.pdf

More information here:

Housing Policy Debate outline v11.pdf