Adams to take the lead on housing

Prime Minister Bill English today announced changes to the ministerial responsibilities for housing as part of a Cabinet revamp prompted by Hekia Parata and Murray McCully’s decisions to stand down from parliament.

English disestablished the Housing Minister position last year, but kept on Nick Smith as Building and Construction Minister.

But now he has shifted responsibility for the Crown land building programme from Smith to Adams.

As Social Investment Minister, Adams was already responsible for Housing New Zealand as well some aspects of social and emergency housing.

She will now be responsible for all aspects of social and emergency housing, as well as taking the lead in the government’s overall house building programme – including developments on Crown Land.

Smith, who has copped a lot of criticism from Opposition for his handling of the housing portfolio, will continue to oversee building regulation, including planning, minimum codes and building sector productivity issues.

English told media Smith was not being removed from housing issues and that regulation for the whole housing portfolio remains with him.

But English said he had taken the opportunity to consolidate all building programmes under one minister.

According to sources, National is preparing to announce a large government house building programme, focusing on Auckland, in the next few months.

The Labour Party has been campaigning on its KiwiBuild policy, which would build 100,000 affordable, starter homes and units and sell them to first homebuyers at cost, for some time.

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