Property

Twyford takes the reins

The new government has announced its Cabinet and Labour's long-time housing spokesperson, Phil Twyford, is the new Minister of Housing and Urban Development.

Wednesday, October 25th 2017

New Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford

The addition of urban development to the ministerial responsibilities signals a change in focus as, traditionally, the portfolio has encompassed housing and construction.

The housing portfolio will now include social housing, the private rental market and KiwiBuild.

Under the previous government, these responsibilities were divvied up among ministers but Prime Minister-elect, Jacinda Ardern, reportedly wants one person in charge.

Twyford will also be Minister of Transport.

NZ Property Investors Federation executive officer Andrew King said he knows Twyford and is looking forward to working with the new minister.

Twyford has been in Parliament since 2008 and has been MP for Te Atatu since 2011. Before going into politics, he was the founder director of Oxfam New Zealand.

Meanwhile, it looks like the Labour-led government will hit the ground running on the housing front.

In a speech to the Council of Trade Unions today, Ardern pledged that in Labour’s first 100 days they will pass the Healthy Homes Bill and get started on the KiwiBuild programme, which aims to build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 years.

Read more:

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Minimum standards for insulation and heating a step closer

Build more bloody houses – Little

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Heartland Bank - Online	6.89
Wairarapa Building Society	6.95
Unity	6.99
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special	7.04
ICBC	7.05
China Construction Bank	7.09
BNZ - Classic	7.24
ASB Bank	7.24
ANZ Special	7.24
TSB Special	7.24

Unity First Home Buyer special	6.45
Heartland Bank - Online	6.55
SBS Bank Special	6.69
TSB Special	6.75
Westpac Special	6.75
China Construction Bank	6.75
ICBC	6.75
AIA - Go Home Loans	6.75
ASB Bank	6.75
Unity	6.79
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ	6.79

SBS Bank Special	6.19
ASB Bank	6.39
Westpac Special	6.39
AIA - Go Home Loans	6.39
China Construction Bank	6.40
ICBC	6.49
Kiwibank Special	6.55
BNZ - Classic	6.55
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ	6.55
TSB Special	6.59
SBS Bank	6.79

SBS FirstHome Combo	6.19
AIA - Back My Build	6.19
ANZ Blueprint to Build	7.39
Credit Union Auckland	7.70
ICBC	7.85
Heartland Bank - Online	7.99
Pepper Money Essential	8.29
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ	8.40
Co-operative Bank - Standard	8.40
First Credit Union Standard	8.50
Kiwibank	8.50