Dr Wayne Mapp National Housing Spokesperson

25 September 2003

State housing list out of control - National

The Government's failed policy on state housing has seen the waiting list grow by 500 people to 12,100 since April, says National Housing Spokesperson Dr Wayne Mapp.

Latest figures also show that families in desperate need of state housing are waiting between five and seven months. National today released the figures to the end of August from answers to its parliamentary questions.

"The average time for people to get into a house is over seven months. This shows the Government's only solution to build more state houses for a growing number of tenants is wrong, because it can't ever meet the demand.

"Existing long-term tenants should be given the option to buy, and the private sector allowed to own and manage the renting of state houses.

"These latest figures make depressing reading. Dunedin, Whakatane and Whangarei have the most 'at risk' people waiting the longest times, of between five and seven months for houses. The 'at risk' category is those who are in severe and immediate need of housing.

"In Otara 'at risk' people are waiting almost three months, and in Tauranga and Rotorua they are waiting more than two months.

"In Auckland many people in the risk and 'serious need' categories are waiting 5-10 months for houses. These include Glen Innes (waiting 10 months), Mt Albert and Mt Roskill (9+ months), Panmure (8 months), Manurewa and New Lynn (more than 6 months), and Mangere (5 months).

"The Government must get real and realise it's failing its promises on housing. It has to open the way for better management of state housing," Dr Mapp said.

Ends

© Scoop Media