AMENDED ANSWERS TO ORAL QUESTIONS — Question No. 7 to Minister

This afternoon, in response to a supplementary question from Phil Heatley MP, I stated that Housing New Zealand Corporation had generated savings of $300 million by transferring tenants from larger properties to ones that better suited their needs. Our efforts to find 303 households more appropriate homes have, in fact, generated savings of $36 million in the last year; those efforts are part of the larger, better utilisation project, which also involves encouraging market rent tenants to move into the private rental market or homeownership. In fact, this project has generated savings of $280 million—I was $20 million out. Thank you.

I raise a point of order, Madam Chairperson. There is no way that members of the Opposition would ever deny the Minister an opportunity to correct an answer given to the House, but in the time that I have been here it has been customary for a Minister to conclude his statement by apologising for misleading the House.

The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley): I ask the Minister please to—

💬 Hon Chris Carter: Madam Chairperson, sorry. I regret my error.

Point of order, Madam Chairperson.

The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley): No, please be seated. Would the Minister please stand and withdraw and apologise.

I thought I had, but I will repeat it. I regret my error.