ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
The government and numerous experts say the housing crisis is complex. No it isn’t.
What they have failed to do is focus on the need to address supply and demand.
Buzzwords like social housing are being used by the government as it focuses on its end goal of privatising state housing. It has no time for a practical and worthwhile solution.
The government has not added to the supply of houses in its six years in office and they have done little to reduce demand – immigration is at a record level.
What is needed is an urgent solution with tens of thousands of housing being built.
We must do away with the negative talk. We need the will to solve this quickly. In wartime and after catastrophes we have demonstrated we can take quick action. The lack of housing is a crisis that needs similar attention. Tens of thousands are waiting for state houses and thousands are renting because of the ridiculously high house prices.
And the housing crisis is hitting a cross section of New Zealanders – not just people out of work, but many two-wage households.
In a decent society like New Zealand there is no place for workers and their families to be forced to live in a car or for children to be ill because their home is of a poor standard. The taxpayer bears the cost of dealing with the consequences of poverty, better for us to pay the cost upfront of housing everyone. There will be a massive, positive spinoff.
A decent home makes it easier for a person to pick themselves up in life.
New Zealand First wants to see a big build of houses. Jobs will be created – not for migrant workers, as has happened in dairying and the Christchurch Rebuild, but jobs targeted at Kiwis who want to learn a trade or who need the confidence that comes from being part of the workforce.
Industry will get a huge boost, at all levels, from planning, supply and delivery of materials to trade work.
A new supply of houses will reduce housing demand, relieving pressure on out of control housing prices.
Only good can come when every New Zealander has a decent place to call home.
The government and numerous experts say the housing crisis is complex. No it isn’t.
What they have failed to do is focus on the need to address supply and demand.
Buzzwords like social housing are being used by the government as it focuses on its end goal of privatising state housing. It has no...
The government and numerous experts say the housing crisis is complex. No it isn’t.
What they have failed to do is focus on the need to address supply and demand.
Buzzwords like social housing are being used by the government as it focuses on its end goal of privatising state housing. It has no time for a practical and worthwhile solution.
The government has not added to the supply of houses in its six years in office and they have done little to reduce demand – immigration is at a record level.
What is needed is an urgent solution with tens of thousands of housing being built.
We must do away with the negative talk. We need the will to solve this quickly. In wartime and after catastrophes we have demonstrated we can take quick action. The lack of housing is a crisis that needs similar attention. Tens of thousands are waiting for state houses and thousands are renting because of the ridiculously high house prices.
And the housing crisis is hitting a cross section of New Zealanders – not just people out of work, but many two-wage households.
In a decent society like New Zealand there is no place for workers and their families to be forced to live in a car or for children to be ill because their home is of a poor standard. The taxpayer bears the cost of dealing with the consequences of poverty, better for us to pay the cost upfront of housing everyone. There will be a massive, positive spinoff.
A decent home makes it easier for a person to pick themselves up in life.
New Zealand First wants to see a big build of houses. Jobs will be created – not for migrant workers, as has happened in dairying and the Christchurch Rebuild, but jobs targeted at Kiwis who want to learn a trade or who need the confidence that comes from being part of the workforce.
Industry will get a huge boost, at all levels, from planning, supply and delivery of materials to trade work.
A new supply of houses will reduce housing demand, relieving pressure on out of control housing prices.
Only good can come when every New Zealander has a decent place to call home.
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