1100 homes for Manukau

Nearly 2500 new state homes will built, bought or leased throughout the Auckland region by the year 2007, and 1100 of these will be in south Auckland, Housing Minister Steve Maharey says.

Housing New Zealand defines south Auckland as stretching from Ellerslie and Royal Oak to Port Waikato.

Counties Manukau District Health Board and Child Poverty Action Group representative Alan Johnson welcomes the Government's commitment to increasing the number of state houses.

However, Mr Johnson doubts the increase will make much difference to the shortage in Auckland, because waiting lists continue to grow steadily.

Counties Manukau Salvation Army director Gerry Walker says the Government is taking a step in the right direction by acquiring more state housing.

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