Tax-funded explosion in consultants at HNZ

Between 2003 and 2007 the amount spent on consultants at Housing New Zealand has nearly doubled from $6.7 million to $12.6 million according to figures released By National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley today.

“Between 2002 and 2006 the number of full-time staff at Housing New Zealand has mushroomed from 682 to 1005, or 47%.

“Given that the state-owned housing stock has only increased by around 12% under Labour, the explosion in staff and consultants needs to be explained.”

Mr Heatley says in Opposition Labour promised to build in-house capacity rather than employ consultants.

“These figures make a mockery of that,” Mr Heatley says.

Helen Clark once talked about ‘countless millions’ being ‘squandered on consultants’ and Departments which ‘rely overly much on consultants to provide routine policy advice’.

“Housing Minister Chris Carter needs to reconcile Helen Clark’s earlier promises with the double whammy of an explosion in HNZ consultants and the rocketing number of staff on the HNZ payroll.”

Mr Heatley says the number of HNZ staffers earning more than $100,000 has increased from 39 to 80 between 2002 and 2006.

“Given the huge increase in personnel, it’s hard to accept that no-one noticed the back-log of hundreds of complaints about fraud and dishonesty.

“After saying there was no problem at all, Chris Carter quickly backed down once National started asking questions about fraud and subletting. Here’s another issue he needs to address on behalf of the taxpayer.”

Ends

© Scoop Media