The Government is crowing about a 21 percent increase in building consents in Auckland over the past year, but it still falls 5000 homes short of what the Productivity Commission says is needed.
New data from Statistics New Zealand shows there were 25,114 consents issued nationally in the year to May 2015, 8195 of which were in Auckland.
The national figure is at an eight-year high, while the Auckland figure is a 21 percent increase on the previous year. It is also the fastest rate of new house-build in a decade.
But it is still less than the 13,000 homes per year the Commission believes is needed to keep up with Auckland's growth.
Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith says the national figure is a 10 percent increase on the same period last year, and more than 13,000 houses more than during the global financial crisis.
"The latest building consent figures are very encouraging," he says.
"There is no question we need to keep that up if we are to deal with the deficit in the balance of supply and demand of housing in Auckland."
He acknowledged there is a shortage of housing of around 20-30,000 homes in Auckland.
Dr Smith says strong net migration and fewer Kiwis leaving New Zealand is good, but puts more pressure on the housing market.
But Labour's housing and Auckland issues spokesman Phil Twyford believes Dr Smith boasting about today's figures is "absolutely bizarre".
"We're getting worse and worse - every year the shortfall is getting bigger and bigger.
"He's comparing today's figures with the depths of the global financial crisis when building collapsed – that's his benchmark."
Mr Twyford says under Dr Smith housing affordability has got worse every month and he should resign for it.
"All he's delivered is photo stunts and half-baked measured like his Auckland vacant Crown land initiative which won't make a blind bit of difference."
Unless there is a policy change, the Auckland housing market will continue to skyrocket, he says.
3 News
source: newshub archive
