Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader
Member of Parliament for Northland
18 OCTOBER 2016

KEY CALLED HOUSING ‘A CRISIS’ IN 2007 – EIGHT YEARS LATER HE’S FULL OF EXCUSES - IT WON’T WASH

Prime Minister John Key’s fob off line that solving the Auckland housing crisis will take time is a disgrace – he’s had eight years as PM fix it, says New Zealand First Leader and Northland Member of Parliament Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“This week on Radio NZ John Key said housing development would ‘take some time’. He’s a PM full of excuses for failure.

“Eight years ago he was campaigning on a four point plan to solve what he called the ‘housing affordability crisis’.

“He spoke of the ‘enormity of the problem’, the ‘second worst affordability housing problem in the world’, it had got ‘worse’ and ‘on current trends’ in 2007 it showed ‘no signs of slowing’ and the crisis ‘would only deepen’.

“In 2007 he had a four-point plan to arrest this housing crisis and build more houses. He was promising to deliver as PM. He got his chance and he didn’t.

“In 2007 Mr Key was outspoken in condemning the Labour government for its lack of action - but National has done zilch, and made it far worse by forcing up immigration to record levels.

“A recent report said one in seven houses sold in Auckland are being bought by speculators who already own five or more properties.

“In most cases they have taken these homes at the expense of Kiwis looking for their first home.

“Mr Key has had eight years, and National had nine years while Labour was in to get their solution sorted. They got into government in 2008 and ignored the crisis.”

ENDS

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