Media release: 16 September 2016

Mayoral candidate David Hay released his comprehensive housing policy online today.

"Auckland currently faces a housing crisis, brought about mainly by things are beyond the council’s control. The council can’t fix them. I am restricting my housing policy to focus on the things council can do. I can’t promise to fix Auckland’s housing crisis. I will promise only to do what I can, as best I can." said Mr Hay.

"I've made a number of statements about housing policy in media releases and at public meetings. Today I'm releasing my housing policy as a comprehensive package online."

"I believe that warm, dry, affordable housing is a basic human right. This policy is about doing all that Auckland Council can do, to ensure people can enjoy safe, secure and healthy housing." said Mr Hay.

"The key points of the package are:

• Provide emergency housing for the homeless, as quickly as possible, and then to shame the government into providing a long-term solution.
• Stick with the Unitary Plan, to provide more housing and a wider range of housing choices.
• Adopt an Annual Value rating valuation basis, which incentivises homeowners to move out of undercrowded housing.
• Put the acid on council organisation to speed up resource consenting and building permit processes, without compromising quality.
• Lead the creation of a New Zealand Standard for open source design of modular and prefabricated housing, to accelerate housing construction."

"These are the sensible, achievable, things that Auckland Council can do to rapidly increase housing supply in Auckland, to meet increasing demand." said Mr Hay.

"But they won't solve the current housing crisis, by themselves. Auckland needs to work closely with the government to deliver a comprehensive long-term solution. I am willing and able to work constructively with any government to do that."

"Right now, we need the government to listen and come to the table. There is a crisis. People are hurting. We have no time to lose."

"If I'm elected Mayor I am going to get right into the government's face and stay there, for as long as it takes, until we get meaningful policy changes that ensure Auckland has affordable housing again." said Mr Hay.

HOUSING POLICY ONLINE:
http://www.heydavidhay.nz/housing-policy/

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