State houses at the Harp of Erin Estate in Oranga, Auckland, around 1947. The round concrete sheds behind the houses were a distinctive feature of this estate. New Zealand Free Lance collection, Alexander Turnbull Library, PAColl-6203-07. Public domain (NZ).
The Alliance Party is proud to unveil an ambitious, modern housing policy designed to bring our national housing infrastructure into the twenty-first century. Alliance Party housing spokesperson and candidate for Palmerston North, Joshua Moss, said the policy was founded primarily on one overarching principle:
“Every human being has the right to a warm, safe, and secure home at a fair price. Through four decades of neglect, privatisation, and inaction we have failed to maintain or improve the provision of public housing. We will reverse this trend.”
The centrepiece of the Alliance policy is a five-year housing plan: a massive public building programme led by Kāinga Ora, alongside a newly established Ministry of Works, to build the homes and infrastructure Aotearoa New Zealand needs.
“We will clear the social housing register, while creating decent jobs in construction and building high-quality homes that last,” Mr Moss said.
From the archives · 1937 / 1978A Housing Corporation album marking the completion of the 100,000th state house. This page pairs the 1937 Miramar house with the 100,000th, built in Hornby, Christchurch, in 1978. Housing Corporation album, Archives New Zealand, BAAM 4371/1/a. CC BY 2.0.
The Alliance policy caps social housing rent at 25 percent of income, and establishes state backed mortgages and co-ownership models to help working people get into housing.
“Our economy has been reliant on property speculation for too long, but the commodification of housing does enormous harm to our communities. The Alliance believes housing is a public good, and will implement lending criteria that favours owner-occupiers while discouraging property speculators.”
Palmerston North · c. 1937R B Hammond’s plan for Savage Crescent, Palmerston North, around 1937. The neighbourhood was designed around a shared recreation area, with gardens and houses positioned for sunlight. By 1944, 245 state houses had been built. Manawatū Heritage, Ian Matheson City Archives.
“We won’t build a productive economy by buying and selling houses to one another. The state must intervene in the housing market significantly to provide a real reset, and encourage investment into higher productivity sectors,” Mr Moss said.
“It’s time we started thinking of housing more like manners at a potluck – everyone gets a plate before anyone has seconds.”
For more information contact Alliance Party housing spokesperson and Palmerston North candidate Joshua Moss on 0273187235, or joshua.moss@allianceparty.nz
The Alliance
