Wednesday, September 19 2001
ACT Housing Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman has criticised the government's Special Housing Action Zone (SHAZ) scheme as
misguided. She believes that offering interest free, non-refundable payments of as much as $50,000 of taxpayers' money
for people to spend on their own private housing is wrong, and sees it as a blatant vote buying exercise.
"I've been amazed to find out through my written Parliamentary questions that the Government has already offered 70
so-called loans of up to $50,000 on the scheme. These 'loans', for people to have maintenance work carried out on their
homes, such as replacing collapsed verandas, rotting floorboards and the like, don't have to be repaid and are written
off after three years.
"I am very concerned that this scheme, which has taken the Government desire to encourage state dependency to new
heights, will send the wrong signals: someone who looks after their home is expected to spend their own money on
maintenance, yet someone who lets their home fall into disrepair can go straight to the Government for free taxpayer
funds to fix it.
"This is yet another example of the undermining of personal responsibility, with the government telling New Zealanders
not to worry because the state will look after them whether or not they bother to look after themselves.
"The scheme is surely misuse of Housing New Zealand money. Here we see taxpayer's money being thrown at private
property, while families with urgent housing needs sit on Housing New Zealand waiting lists, and state houses sit empty
waiting for repairs", Dr Newman said.
Ends