Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Labour will recommence a commitment to the Pacific health workforce to maximise
the health system‟s ability to respond to the needs of the Pacific community.
Labour will commit to training and investing in a skilled Pacific health workforce that
understands the challenges and opportunities in the Pacific community.
Housing
Pacific Islanders, like all New Zealanders, have the right to a good home to provide families
with the basics to live the Kiwi dream. Labour is committed to addressing the safety and
healthiness of Pacific people in their homes whether they are owners or private or state
tenants.
Labour will implement a pro-active and preventative community-based approach to
wider health issues, especially given issues around overcrowding in Pacific homes.
Pacific people make up 25% of state house tenants, and any improvements to the state
housing scheme will directly benefit them. The last Labour Government improved tenant
health and delivered energy cost savings for state house tenants through “retrofitting” state
homes. The next Labour Government will reaffirm Housing New Zealand's role as a social
housing provider providing security and support for those most in need.
Labour will continue to invest in the acquisition and maintenance of state houses and
is committed to income-related rents for state house tenants.
Labour will ensure that every client who comes into Housing New Zealand has a
needs assessment before being offered the 'options and advice' service. Category C
and D clients will not be denied access to the state house waiting list but will continue
to be offered advice on alternative accommodation options.
Labour will cease the selling down of the state housing stock in order to keep up the
stock of state housing and to enable the quality integrated renewal of state housing
communities.
A stable, healthy home is also crucial for those Pacific families who rent privately. The
private rental property market in New Zealand is not set up to deliver long term rental
arrangements, despite such arrangements often benefitting both tenant and landlord.
Labour will work with landlord and tenant representative groups to investigate options
for increasing security of tenure in the private sector.
While most landlords maintain their properties to appropriate healthy standards,
unfortunately some do not. Cold unhealthy rental properties result in high power costs and
poor health outcomes for Pacific families.
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