Moana Mackey
Housing spokesperson
5 October 2011
Empty state house reveals National's empty promises
Questions asked about an empty state house in Nelson have revealed the true extent of restructuring and frontline job
losses at Housing New Zealand says Labour Housing Spokesperson Moana Mackey.
"Questions asked about the Dodson Valley state house which has been empty all year revealed that Housing NZ's Nelson
office is so short of staff that they are having to operate on reduced hours,” Moana Mackey said.
"National promised no cuts to frontline services but recently had to admit that around 100 frontline Housing New Zealand
positions will be axed across the country. The Housing Minister then tried to wriggle out of it by claiming that even
though frontline staff were being fired the same level of service would be provided.
“The experience in Nelson shows that this simply is not true. Job cuts are already resulting in overwhelmed
neighbourhood units being unable to carry out basic functions.
"Nelson MP Nick Smith might well think it's unacceptable that the property has sat vacant for so long but it is his
government's funding cuts and restructuring of Housing New Zealand that are to blame, not overworked and under-resourced
Housing New Zealand staff.
"These changes are being rammed through hastily and without any consultation with the communities and agencies that will
have to pick up the pieces.
"It also appears that even Housing New Zealand's staff were not aware of or consulted about the changes given that as
recently as June Housing New Zealand told the Nelson mail that they had no plans for restructuring or reductions in
staffing.
"These changes will not lead to better housing outcomes as the Government claims. In fact they are already resulting in
reduced services leading to greater hardship for vulnerable families. That is National's true legacy in housing,” Moana
Mackey said.
ENDS