Pavitt: Not enough focus on housing

Pearl Pavitt.

Rotorua Budget Advisory Service budget adviser Pearl Pavitt says she expected to see more of a focus on housing and more funding to help senior citizens in this year's budget.

Mrs Pavitt said with all the talk before the budget on housing she was surprised not to see a bigger spend on housing for the regions.

While the Government has included a further $100 million to free up Crown land for housing developments in Auckland as well as $200 million for those with the most pressing housing needs, she expected it to be more.

"I thought it was going to be housing that would be the main thing but it seems to be concentrated on education and health."

"I think if housing was going to be on top of everyone's wishlist, I would have thought there would be more spend."

Mrs Pavitt said spending of $36 million to ensure more families lived in warmer, drier and healthier homes was good, but probably wouldn't stretch far enough.

"I would like to see more help for older people with things like power costs, like they do in other countries."