Phil Twyford
MP for Te Atatū
Housing Spokesperson
MEDIA STATEMENT
24 May 2016
Budget building materials policy backfires
On the eve of this year’s Budget official figures show Nick Smith’s Budget 2014 centrepiece to reduce the cost of
building materials has backfired, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford.
“Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment officials have spent the past two years tracking the 57 building
products Nick Smith used for his claim National would make building a house $3500 cheaper.
“Two years later plasterboard, the main component in National’s policy, has gone up by $3760 – more than the much-touted
savings.
“At the same time, of the 57 products monitored, more increased in price than decreased.
“Nick Smith’s Budget showpiece has been a complete flop, not unlike his Budget 2015 plan to build houses on cemeteries
and exploding sub-stations.
“This Minister has made an art form of media stunts and half-measures designed to convey the impression that he is doing
something about the housing crisis.
“The people of New Zealand want the Government to acknowledge there is a housing crisis and front up with a serious
reform programme that includes cracking down on speculators, building actual houses and genuine reform of restrictive
planning rules,” Phil Twyford says.
ENDS