Christchurch rental shortage "crisis for some"

"This is a problem, I'll accept that, but I don't think it's a crisis," said Brownlee.

However, speaking on the TV3 programme The Nation yesterday Parker said the situation in Christchurch was "a crisis for some people."

"It depends on how you define crisis on an individual level," he said.

"You know I'm not here to justify someone else's words, but I would say on an individual level yes, it'll be a crisis for some people."

The debate about the rental shortage has been heightened in the wake of figures from Trade Me Property which revealed a 40% reduction in the city's rental stock - coming at the same time as landlords' report a 42% rise in enquiries from prospective tenants.

Despite calls for action to resolve the shortage Brownlee said the Government would not intervene.

"A rent freeze doesn't increase supply and will never encourage new stock."

He said the Government had no intention of regulating rents but would provide new housing stock.

Brownlee's approach was criticised by Christchurch East Labour MP Lianne Dalziel, who said the housing shortage was fast becoming an "extreme crisis."

She said the Government had a moral obligation to prevent landlords' hiking rents to take advantage of the shortage.

First National Giera Progressive principal Joe Mullin said he was aware of some private landlords' "really ripping into it" when it came to rent rises, but said the majority of increases were fair.

"Rents have remained pretty static for a number of years ad were due to go up anyway, probably $15-$20 a week more," he said.