Originally Posted by
elZorro
BP asked for other policies that National have done badly on, where Labour had better ideas. Well, depending on your point of view, housing has to be a big one.
If you think it's a good idea for more NZers to buy their own homes, for economic drive and stability, also equity, if that is a big part of being a NZer, then National has done badly. They have provided some super fund cash for new homeowners, but that has added fuel to property prices in Auckland in particular. As soon as one subdivision outfit offered some land at fixed prices, we saw the extent of the demand. The govt hasn't had much luck getting the council to tow the line, as they already have to increase rates by nearly 10% in a year. That'll be highly unpopular.
Labour, on the other hand, have a brilliant plan called KiwiBuild, to gear up with NZ businesses to construct various home types, with a mix of prices, locations, and styles. These would then be onsold, and the cash freed up to build more houses. The govt would use its buying power to provide cheaper land, materials, and can afford to keep margins low. This would also employ and train a lot more people more quickly than the market is likely to do, left to its own devices. Cheaper houses wouldn't be built in general, because the profit is lower.
The KiwiBuild construction target is for 10,000 houses a year, within 3-4 years. This has been done before in NZ, it's not a dream. But National has not been delivering on its lame promises in this area. Little wonder, when many National MPs are using rental property investments as their passive income.