Phil Twyford
Only so much leeway
General Debates are as 'free-for-all' as Parliament's debating chamber gets - but there are still rules.
AudioMt Albert KiwiBuild homes: Private sector needs help - Twyford
Housing Minister Phil Twyford plans to build up to 4000 houses, but the National Party says the numbers don't add up. Yesterday Mr Twyford unveiled the plan to build the homes on roughly 30 hectares… Audio
Mt Albert housing plan a tight squeeze?
The government's plan to build up to 4000 houses on roughly 30 hectares of former Unitec campus land in the central Auckland suburb of Mt Albert is raising some eyebrows. The Opposition says that… Audio
Landlords, not tenants, should pay letting fees - Twyford
Housing Minister Phil Twyford is confident banning letting fees will save renters money. Landlords can charge tenants a fee - usually a week's rent - to cover what they have paid letting agents. Mr… Audio
'You need a builder not a crusher in housing' - Phil Twyford
The new leader of the Opposition is hoping he'll rattle the government on housing by appointing Judith Collins as National's housing spokesperson. Simon Bridges revealed his caucus reshuffle at… Audio
Housing report paints 'sobering picture' of crisis
A report into the state of housing in New Zealand paints a "sobering picture" of the crisis and its effects, particularly on children, Housing Minister Phil Twyford says.
Rental market 'dismal' - housing report author
One of the co-authors of the government's housing stocktake report that will be published this morning says the rental market is dismal and that levels of homelessness in the country will not improve… Audio
Govt to help renters with letting fees ban
Banning letting fees and allowing landlords to increase rents just once per year are two of the ways the government wants to make life easier for renters. Housing Minister Phil Twyford is planning to… Audio
Road tripping with the Minister of Transport
Choosing music for a road trip is a lot like politics, says Transport Minister Phil Twyford – "you've got to take people with you, right?" Audio
State house family welcome end to sell-off
A family living in the country's first ever state house are happy to know it can't be sold, after the Government today formally moved to stop the mass sell-off of state houses. Audio
Govt looks at evictions from P-contaminated state houses
People wrongly evicted from meth-contaminated state houses may be leap-frogged to the top of waiting lists for new homes. Audio
Govt to end state housing relocation grants
The government will stop giving people living in state houses money to move out of Auckland. The previous government offered up to $5000 to encourage people to leave the city and free up social… Audio
Bill banning foreign home-buyers to be introduced
The government will introduce legislation tomorrow to ban foreigners from buying existing houses.
HNZ policy on meth contamination to change - Housing Minister
Phil Twyford announces live on Checkpoint he will change HNZ policy over evicting tenants for positive methamphetamine results. He said 900 homes were left empty, and $75m wasted over 'moral panic'… Video, Audio
Govt spent $44,000 for homeless man to live in motel for 58 weeks
Housing Minister Phil Twyford says New Zealand’s longest tax-payer funded emergency housing tenant, Robert Erueti, should never have been evicted from his HNZ home. Video, Audio
Housing stocktake 'smoke and mirrors' - National
The government's freshly announced stocktake of housing is being dismissed as nothing more than smoke and mirrors. The National Party says the government already has this information at its… Audio
Aucklanders to pay 10c/l fuel tax from July 2018
Aucklanders will be paying an extra 10 cents a litre on their fuel bill when a regional fuel tax comes into force - the Government has confirmed it will be putting the tax in place as a priority. But… Audio
Govt rejects claims KiwiBuild won't meet target
The Government is rejecting an official estimate its Kiwibuild programme will lead to far fewer private homes being built. The Labour-led government plans to build 100,000 affordable houses over the… Audio
Tendering process for transport contracts to be axed
A much-criticised way of choosing companies to run bus or train services look set to be axed. Unions argue the competition pushes down wages and conditions and the new Minister of Transport Phil… Audio
Mayors around NZ hope to win from Auckland fuel tax
Mayors outside of Auckland hope the city's fuel tax will pave the way for new ways of funding their own massive infrastructure costs. Transport Minister Phil Twyford will bring in a new law allowing… Audio
