Editorial: Little talks sense on housing

Mark Dawson

By Mark Dawson

WHILE a number of families have -- much to our collective shame -- struggled to put a roof over their heads, there has been much scrambling, soundbiting and shuffling among the nation's politicians, none of whom (as far as I know) has been reduced to living in a car or garage.

So it was refreshing to hear one clear pronouncement from Labour leader Andrew Little.

If put into power, Labour would change Housing New Zealand from a corporation, which has to pay a dividend to the Government's coffers, into the public service which some of us thought it was meant to be all along, providing homes for those in need. There are worse ways to celebrate 100 years.

The Ministry of Social Development, of which Housing NZ is a part, has pursued a policy of making it harder for people to get a state house, instead pushing them toward the private sector and allowing it to sell off its properties.

Labour's proposal is just one of a multitude that have tumbled out as our elected representatives struggle to get a grip on "the housing crisis". But the idea of -- in effect -- changing the mindset of Housing NZ looks like a good foundation stone.

Other solutions are less convincing, yet that has not deterred the undeterrable Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett from pressing ahead with her $5000 handout to encourage Aucklanders to come and take up a state house in Whanganui, and elsewhere in the provinces.

The policy came into effect last month and interest has been officially described as "medium-level". A handful of people some way down the queue for a state house in Auckland have been interviewed with a view to getting a house -- and a cheque -- out in the regions. Don't expect a stampede of disaffected Aucklanders down State Highway 3 -- I doubt the scheme will take off, and that may be no bad thing. We have enough local people struggling for decent housing and, as the saying goes, "Charity begins at home".