Housing is one of the Government's biggest issues, says minister Phil Twyford. Photo / Doug Sherring
Housing is one of the Government's biggest issues, says minister Phil Twyford. Photo / Doug Sherring
A new housing and urban development "super-ministry" bringing together all agencies involved in housing will be running by October, Housing Minister Phil Twyford says.
The new Ministry of Housing and Urban Development will bring together aspects of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Social Development and Treasury to advisethe Government on housing issues.
"Addressing the national housing crisis is one of the biggest challenges our Government faces," Twyford said.
"The new ministry will provide the focus and capability in the public service to deliver our reform agenda."
It will become the Government's lead adviser on housing and urban development, providing advice on housing issues, including homelessness, ensuring affordable, warm, safe and dry rental housing in the private and public markets, and support for first home buyers.
The ministry would bring together functions across from existing agencies already working in the housing area, and funds to pay for it could come from their existing operational budgets:
• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE): the housing and urban policy functions, the KiwiBuild Unit and the Community Housing Regulatory Authority
• Ministry of Social Development (MSD): policy for emergency, transitional and public housing
