The freeing-up of Housing New Zealand's once-suspected P-condemned housing stock could be a while away yet in Hawke's Bay, despite more than 250 families now on the waiting lists.
A Housing New Zealand spokesman said yesterday 50 of its vacant properties were being "prioritised" for being put back into use, but none are thought to be in Hawke's Bay.
The spokesman said none were in Napier where the number of families on the waiting list for social housing had increased by more than 20 per cent in the latest quarter, to number 156 at the end of September.
In the Hastings District there were 86, while throughout New Zealand there were 4602, up 18.7 per cent on the June quarter.
Napier city councillor Maxine Boag, whose Nelson Park Ward is home to the greater share of Housing NZ homes in Napier, said it was "appalling" to have "scores" of homes empty due to what were found now to be harmless traces of methamphetamine, when the figures showed such a need for homes in the city.