Phil Heatley MP
National Party Housing Spokesman

26 March 2006

Chris Carter confirms $95,000 state house income

National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley is pleased Chris Carter has finally moved to correct figures which show how much Housing New Zealand tenants are earning.

“Chris Carter initially tried to hose down this story by telling reporters that the figure he provided showing a household income of $113,000 after tax was wrong. Only on Thursday, after question time, did he move to correct his Department’s three-week-old mistake.

“Mr Carter’s new, corrected answers show the highest after-tax income of a HNZ household is only a few thousand shy of that earlier figure, at nearly $95,000.”

Mr Heatley says the top five after-tax household incomes of HNZ tenants are $94, 938, $84,968, $82, 240, $80,588 and $78, 520.

“Fair-minded New Zealanders have no problem helping those who are struggling to make ends meet, but that goodwill is likely to evaporate if Labour doesn’t put the checks in place to make sure taxpayer money is being spent wisely.”

“Unfortunately, many of the thousands on the HNZ waiting list will be waiting in vain. Labour has already said it has no policy to move people from state houses ‘when they get to a certain income’.”

“Labour should focus on moving those who are able to look after themselves into their own homes, and free up Housing New Zealand properties for people in genuine need.”

Mr Heatley says the Minister has refused to answer questions on gross incomes on the basis that ‘this would require a significant commitment of resources which I do not consider warranted’.

Statistics New Zealand reported in June that the average annual gross income for a household is $65,520 per year.

Parliamentary Question 00910 (Corrected)

Sent: Thursday, 23 March 2006 02:41 p.m.
To: Philip Heatley
Subject: 00910 (2006) Published - Housing - Corrected Reply

Question: What is the total household income of each of the top five income Housing New Zealand tenant households for each neighbourhood unit as reported to Housing New Zealand?

Portfolio: Housing
Minister: Hon Chris Carter
Date Lodged:22/02/2006

Answer Text: Housing New Zealand Corporation has supplied the attached table from its records showing the declared total net weekly assessable income for each of the top five income earning households in each neighbourhood unit.

The table shows the combined total net income as at 23 March 2006 of all those household members who have signed the tenancy agreement and their respective partners. More than one income per household may have been declared.

I have included in the table the original data previously advised to Member with the reasons for a change to the data where a change to the net weekly assessable income for the household has been made.

Twenty-five of these households were housed prior to the introduction of the Social Allocation System (SAS), one was a former Auckland City Council tenant who transferred with the purchase of the Council’s housing by the Corporation, and two were housed under SAS. Both tenants housed under SAS were on a low income when housed and have since improved their circumstances.

There are three families within the 25 housed prior to SAS who have since been transferred between Corporation properties after the introduction of SAS, two because of overcrowding and one because of redevelopment work. One of the three is a family group with four incomes.

Current tenants who have not completed an income-related rent record are not included in the table.

Attachment: 00910 (2006).xls

Review of income-related rents in PQ910 as at 23 March 2006

Notes: (1) IRR type shows whether the change was through an "Annual" income review or a tenanant applying for because of a change of circumstances "COC"
(2) Where a tenant has not re-applied for an income-related rent there is no assessable income and they will therefore be on a market rent
Conclusions: (1) Three income-related rent applications had data entry errors by HNZC
(2) One income-related rent application had incorrect information provided
(3) One income-related rent application had incorrect information provided by the applicant and a data entry error by HNZC
(4) Thirty-eight of the 120 income related-rent applications have changed since PQ910 was asked either through change of tenant circumstance applications or annual income-related rent reviews.

Neighbourhood Unit Assessable Weekly Income in PQ 910 ($) Assessable Weekly Income as at 23/3/06 ($) IRR Type Change in Weekly Assessable Income ($) Reason for change
Blenheim 1305.61 1305.61 .
Blenheim 931.71 931.71 .
Blenheim 785.33 785.33 .
Blenheim 749.09 749.09 .
Blenheim 703.74 703.74 .
Dunedin 1127.50 1127.50 .
Dunedin 970.16 970.16 .
Dunedin 944.67 944.67 .
Dunedin 851.00 851.00 .
Dunedin 833.38 833.38 .
Gisborne 998.12 998.12 .
Gisborne 929.20 929.20 .
Gisborne 900.53 458.06 Annual (442.47) Partner no longer working
Gisborne 891.45 891.45 .
Gisborne 868.41 868.41 .
Glen Innes 1619.92 1619.92 . $82,240 after tax
Glen Innes 1140.94 596.90 COC (544.04) Backdated - partner no longer working
Glen Innes 1117.31 1117.31 .
Glen Innes 1112.67 1136.08 COC 23.41 Late lodged annual review by tenant
Glen Innes 1087.01 1087.01 .
Grey Lynn 1118.98 1118.98 .
Grey Lynn 908.77 908.77 .
Grey Lynn 897.62 897.62 .
Grey Lynn 884.78 884.78 .
Grey Lynn 878.12 878.12 .
Hamilton 1681.35 N/A Annual Tenant has not re-applied for IRR
Hamilton 1201.83 1201.83 .
Hamilton 1168.36 388.33 COC (780.03) Backdated - partner no longer working
Hamilton 1150.08 1150.08 .
Hamilton 1109.64 1109.64 .
Hastings 1233.16 1233.16 .
Hastings 1000.92 1000.92 .
Hastings 934.70 934.70 .
Hastings 930.54 930.54 .
Hastings 905.97 905.97 .
Henderson 1318.31 1318.31 .
Henderson 1271.72 1271.72 .
Henderson 1163.19 1163.19 .
Henderson 1145.21 1145.21 .
Henderson 1006.59 802.92 COC (203.67) Tenants income has changed
Huntly 733.02 733.02 .
Huntly 713.47 713.47 .
Huntly 632.95 632.95 .
Huntly 632.44 632.44 .
Huntly 620.51 620.51 .
Hutt North 1443.20 564.12 COC (879.08) Backdated - Data entry error by HNZC
Hutt North 1134.17 1134.17 .
Hutt North 1088.98 1088.98 .
Hutt North 1069.02 1091.35 Annual 22.33 increase in tenants salary
Hutt North 1057.81 939.72 Annual (118.09) Decrease in tenants income
Hutt South 1260.70 1260.70 .
Hutt South 1110.03 1110.03 .
Hutt South 1072.05 1072.05 .
Hutt South 1035.13 1035.13 .
Hutt South 1003.08 1003.08 .
Invercargill 680.95 680.95 .
Invercargill 654.11 654.11 .
Invercargill 650.35 650.35 .
Invercargill 645.51 N/A Annual Tenant has not re-applied for IRR
Invercargill 625.85 625.85 .
Levin 854.93 854.93 .
Levin 853.57 853.57 .
Levin 604.15 604.15 .
Levin 555.18 353.28 Annual (201.9) Tenant no longer working
Levin 545.14 545.14 .
Linwood 1179.88 1179.88 .
Linwood 1031.36 1031.36 .
Linwood 975.74 975.74 .
Linwood 954.84 526.73 COC (428.11) Partner no longer working
Linwood 951.57 951.57 .
Manawatu 1076.02 1076.02 .
Manawatu 892.61 892.61 .
Manawatu 843.95 843.95 .
Manawatu 837.82 837.82 .
Manawatu 835.79 255.41 COC (580.38) Tenant has separated from partner
Mangere 1509.51 1509.51 . $78,520 after tax
Mangere 1331.57 1331.57 .
Mangere 1306.88 1306.88 .
Mangere 1297.66 1297.66 .
Mangere 1278.44 1278.44 .
Manurewa 1633.69 1633.69 . $84,968 after tax
Manurewa 1526.12 1825.73 Annual 299.61 Tenant has had a pay increase $94,938 after tax
Manurewa 1294.99 1294.99 .
Manurewa 1205.22 1205.22 .
Manurewa 1138.78 1037.29 Annual (101.49) Tenant has had a pay decrease
Mt Albert 1330.23 1330.23 .
Mt Albert 1318.55 1318.55 .
Mt Albert 1242.55 1242.55 .
Mt Albert 1093.12 N/A Annual Tenant has not re-applied for IRR
Mt Albert 995.71 841.39 Annual (154.32) Tenant has had a pay decrease
Mt Roskill 1549.76 1549.76 . $80,588 after tax
Mt Roskill 1363.46 1363.46 .
Mt Roskill 1221.48 1221.48 .
Mt Roskill 1188.87 640.34 COC (548.53) Partner no longer working
Mt Roskill 1153.35 1153.35 .
Napier 1225.60 1225.60 .
Napier 1134.12 1134.12 .
Napier 1031.62 1031.62 .
Napier 1027.51 1027.51 .
Napier 887.40 887.40 .
Nelson 804.13 804.13 .
Nelson 786.66 351.22 COC (435.44) Partner no longer working
Nelson 780.09 780.09 .
Nelson 773.06 773.06 .
Nelson 709.92 709.92 .
New Lynn 2184.65 288.94 COC (1895.71) Data entry error by HNZC and error on application by tenant - revised twice
New Lynn 1474.70 1474.70 .
New Lynn 1384.18 1384.18 .
New Lynn 1307.42 1307.42 .
New Lynn 1295.42 1365.02 Annual 69.6 increase in tenants salary
New Plymouth 1348.34 1348.34 .
New Plymouth 1008.66 1008.66 .
New Plymouth 913.57 913.57 .
New Plymouth 872.42 872.42 .
New Plymouth 861.91 861.91 .
Onehunga 1032.23 1032.23 .
Onehunga 1025.09 1025.09 .
Onehunga 1019.06 1019.06 .
Onehunga 1016.72 N/A Annual Tenant has not re-applied for IRR
Onehunga 952.26 952.26 .
Otahuhu 1373.77 621.75 COC (752.02) Backdated - partner no longer working
Otahuhu 1296.54 1296.54 .
Otahuhu 1261.80 1261.80 .
Otahuhu 1215.87 1215.87 .
Otahuhu 1184.57 1184.57 .
Otara 1528.22 1528.22 .
Otara 1516.03 1516.03 .
Otara 1287.09 N/A Annual Tenant has not re-applied for IRR
Otara 1131.86 1131.86 .
Otara 1119.49 N/A Annual Tenant has not re-applied for IRR
Panmure 1367.09 N/A Annual Tenant has not re-applied for IRR
Panmure 1325.79 1325.79 .
Panmure 1296.53 615.45 COC (681.08) One tenant has moved out
Panmure 1283.92 1283.92 .
Panmure 1188.81 1188.81 .
Papakura 1366.03 1223.77 Annual (142.26) Tenants income has changed
Papakura 1134.69 1134.69 .
Papakura 1104.27 1104.27 .
Papakura 968.28 968.28 .
Papakura 964.11 1006.87 Annual 42.76 Tenants income has changed
Papanui 1122.40 1122.40 .
Papanui 1054.22 1054.22 .
Papanui 931.32 931.32 .
Papanui 927.73 874.80 COC (52.93) Partners income has decreased
Papanui 903.78 903.78 .
Porirua 3959.29 362.37 COC (3596.92) Data entry error by HNZC - previously advised
Porirua 1279.53 1279.53 .
Porirua 1138.03 1138.03 .
Porirua 1134.65 1134.65 .
Porirua 1100.16 1100.16 .
Riccarton 1391.80 1391.80 .
Riccarton 1347.19 1347.19 . Data entry error by HNZC - previously advised
Riccarton 1220.93 1220.93 .
Riccarton 1127.55 1127.55 .
Riccarton 1032.23 1032.23 .
Rotorua 974.39 974.39 .
Rotorua 853.85 853.85 .
Rotorua 800.80 638.61 Annual (162.19) Partner no longer working
Rotorua 771.11 771.11 .
Rotorua 767.50 767.50 .
Rural/Waitakere 1065.59 1065.59 .
Rural/Waitakere 1033.00 1056.31 COC 23.31 Increase in tenants salary
Rural/Waitakere 1028.23 1028.23 .
Rural/Waitakere 983.36 906.88 Annual (76.48) Decrease in tenants income
Rural/Waitakere 979.86 979.86 .
Takapuna 1184.69 1184.69 .
Takapuna 1130.77 1130.77 .
Takapuna 1088.34 1088.34 .
Takapuna 1085.74 1085.74 .
Takapuna 1034.35 1034.35 .
Tauranga 1200.00 621.71 COC (578.29) Employer had advised fortnightly income as weekly
Tauranga 986.36 986.36 .
Tauranga 983.45 765.57 Annual (217.88) Tenant has changed jobs
Tauranga 899.87 899.87 .
Tauranga 890.59 890.59 .
Te Kuiti 1044.84 1044.84 .
Te Kuiti 959.72 959.72 .
Te Kuiti 812.10 812.10 .
Te Kuiti 775.39 775.39 .
Te Kuiti 710.03 710.03 .
Thames 724.72 724.72 .
Thames 680.00 680.00 .
Thames 625.90 625.90 .
Thames 600.00 600.00 .
Thames 590.06 590.06 .
Timaru 960.25 960.25 .
Timaru 832.70 832.70 .
Timaru 791.32 791.32 .
Timaru 783.88 598.66 Annual (185.22) Tenants semi-retired
Timaru 783.19 783.19 .
Wanganui 1065.71 1065.71 .
Wanganui 766.96 766.96 .
Wanganui 699.82 699.82 .
Wanganui 691.19 691.19 .
Wanganui 658.33 658.33 .
Wellington 998.00 998.00 .
Wellington 864.70 864.70 .
Wellington 813.27 813.27 .
Wellington 798.98 798.98 .
Wellington 786.13 786.13 .
West Coast 1046.41 1046.41 .
West Coast 644.92 644.92 .
West Coast 579.36 368.59 COC (210.77) Partner no longer working
West Coast 547.51 547.51 .
West Coast 534.63 534.63 .
West Gate 1249.81 1249.81 .
West Gate 1077.75 1077.75 .
West Gate 992.78 992.78 .
West Gate 977.28 977.28 .
West Gate 857.95 508.88 COC (349.07) Partner no longer working
Whakatane 679.77 685.53 Annual 5.76 Increase in tenants salary
Whakatane 651.97 651.97 .
Whakatane 598.74 241.47 COC (357.27) Backdated - tenant has seperated from partner
Whakatane 588.62 588.62 .
Whakatane 588.55 588.55 .
Whangarei 1017.86 241.47 COC (776.39) Tenant no longer working
Whangarei 930.67 930.67 .
Whangarei 916.11 916.11 .
Whangarei 859.24 859.24 .
Whangarei 858.17 858.17 .

© Scoop Media