Face of the Day

Housing Minister Chris Bishop is extremely frustrated that a government-owned block of 30 flats in Napier has been sitting empty for a year, and he’s told officials to do something about it.

Meanwhile, there are more than 450 households on Napier’s social housing waitlist, frontline organisations are reporting growing numbers of rough sleepers and the government’s giving support services extra money to help them.

The new building on Wellesley Road was bought from a private developer under the former Labour government.

The Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) – which the former housing ministry has been folded in to – was trying to sell it to a community housing provider, but had been unsuccessful so far.

“I am as annoyed about this as locals are,” Bishop said.

“I am extremely frustrated that many months later the units remain unoccupied while there is real housing need in the area.”

Officials were working on a solution, he said.

“I have made my expectations extremely clear.”

RNZ