Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Labour will partner with local government in planning for current and future housing needs.
Housing is essential core infrastructure and we must work together to ensure a consistent
focus and strategy across New Zealand. The National Government‟s decision to omit
housing from the list of core functions of local government is another step in the wrong
direction.
Labour will work with local government, iwi and key stakeholders to develop a New
Zealand Housing Strategy.
Labour will recognise housing as core infrastructure which provides an economic as
well as a social benefit.
Labour will investigate a National Policy statement for Housing under the RMA.
Labour will require government departments to consider the impact on housing need
in any decisions they make.
A Māori housing strategy is also needed as part of this, drafted in close consultation with iwi
and key stakeholders, so that Māori can inform central and local government of their own
housing needs and aspirations.
Labour will work with iwi to develop a Māori housing strategy and investigate bringing
back programmes which were successful in assisting families into home ownership
such as the Low Deposit Rural Lending scheme.
In doing so Labour will give consideration to the recommendations of the recently released
Controller and Auditor-General's report into Government planning and support for housing
on Māori land.
Urgent action on housing
National has sat back while our residential building sector has slipped into deeper and
deeper recession. The numbers of consents issued are at historic lows and skilled
tradespeople are leaving New Zealand in droves. Labour will act with urgency to stem the
loss of much needed tradespeople and start to add to the stock of social and affordable
housing.
Labour will carry out an urgent review of Crown land which could be made available
for affordable and social housing in areas of extreme shortage.
Labour will review the Crown‟s capital allocation in order to prioritise funding for
building social and affordable houses, with a focus on Auckland, within the existing
funding envelope.
Labour will hold an emergency summit on housing bringing together key
stakeholders to develop a plan to get New Zealand back on the road to housing
affordability.
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