Housing New Zealand's decision to put land set aside for low-cost homes out for private sale has disappointed a community housing group.
Low-cost housing (file photo). Photo: RNZ / Teresa Cowie
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The organisation owns a 24 hectare site which was formerly part of the old Papakura Army Base. It was bought in 2004 for $10.7 million and is now worth more than twice that much.
Auckland Community Housing Providers Network spokesperson Peter Jeffries told Nine to Noon that despite plans for low income housing there, it appeared that the state house provider was putting the first sites on the open market.
"It's disappointing when the state seems to be putting that best practice, best thought sort of thing to the side - they're now focusing on private sale, and getting the maximum amount they can for this piece of land."
In a written statement, Housing New Zealand said it would create up to 600 houses, with up to 15 percent of those - or 90 homes - being earmarked as social housing.