The Wireless

National housing policy dismissed

08:56 am on 25 August 2014

The National Party's new housing policy is being dismissed as lame, underwhelming, flimsy and a drop in the bucket which will not build a single new house.

Yet National says its policy, which it unveiled at its election campaign launch over the weekend, will help nearly 90,000 low and middle income earners into their first homes as well as sending a signal to the market to build new and affordable homes.

It will double the amount first home buyers can access through the government's deposit subsidy if they are buying a new home.

It will also raise the price caps which apply to the subsidy and allow first home buyers to withdraw most of the Government contributions to their KiwiSaver.

The Wireless Senior Producer Megan Whelan looks at the election issue of housing here. You can also see all our election coverage

National Party leader John Key said it was designed to help low and middle income earners get over the line and into a house.

However, some think believed it was too little, too late.

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira said the National-led government would leave a legacy of homelessness – having sold-off and knocked down state houses and driven out their tenants.

Labour Party leader David Cunliffe was more diplomatic, saying National's policy would drive house prices higher.