Housing New Zealand has done a U-turn on a five-bedroom state house in Havelock North, saying rather than sell the property, it is now soon to be tenanted.
The corporation had previously said it was considering selling the house, for which there was "no demand", despite there being more than 100 people on the social housing waitlist in Hastings.
Anna Lorck, Labour's unsuccessful Tukituki candidate in the elections last month, sent an Official Information Act request to the corporation regarding the house on Lipscoombe Cres, which a neighbour said had been empty since April.
Ms Lorck wanted to know the status of the property, after becoming aware of it in the lead-up to the general election.
Housing NZ last week replied the property was "a five-bedroom house which we have had no demand for".