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For The Record

Here's What Our Most Powerful Politicians Have Done About Homelessness

For the Record: checking what New Zealand MPs have (or haven't) done to solve the housing crisis.

Housing, housing, housing. Maybe more than anything else, it's become the vital issue of this year's election. If you're living in Auckland, you now face an average house price of over a million dollars—way out of reach for most of us non-boomer plebs, who are left scuttling, duvet-wrapped around our damp and crumbling flats.
Beyond shooting home-ownership about as far out of reach as a cannonball on the horizon, the problems with housing affordability have trickled down in the worst ways imaginable. 2017 has been the year of Kiwi families living in cars, of the government buying up entire hotels to try and house the homeless, of children dying of illnesses caused by freezing, mould-infested homes.

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The housing crisis (or housing "challenge" if you're the current government) has prompted a slew of big promises this election—some of which are included here. But VICE's election series, For the Record, tries to look less at what politicians say or promise, and instead gives you the receipts on what they do: which way they've voted, the laws they've drafted, and what they've pushed for in the hallowed halls of Parliament.

We've assessed the records of New Zealand's most influential MPs and party leaders. And we've looked into their voting histories on key laws relating to housing. Here you can find their stances on issues including state homes, building projects, capital gains tax, homelessness, safe housing and insulation. It's not a comprehensive record, but we hope it helps paint a picture of what your MP's approach really looks like.

As for which MPs really care? We'll let you decide.

Bill English, National

State Housing
In 2015 began the Social Housing Reform Programme, aiming to sell 8000 state houses by 2017.
Voted for the 2016 Social Housing Reform Bill which allowed government to transfer social housing over to community providers.

Building Homes
Has started the $1b Housing Infrastructure Trust, which lends money to councils for infrastructure to support housing.
Has announced a build of 34,000 new houses for Auckland, over 10 years, including 13,500 new social houses and 20,600 affordable and market homes.

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Capital Gains Tax
English has ruled out introducing a new capital gains tax.
In 2015 he included a "bright line capital gains tax" in the budget, and voted for the Taxation Act to implement it, which charges income tax on properties bought and sold within two years.

Healthy Homes & Insulation
Voted against Labour's Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, which sets higher standards for heating and insulation in rentals. He has, however, supported a bill of National's own requiring more insulation and fire alarms.
The National government also rolled out a programme to subsidise insulation, but the scheme is now due to be halted, despite researchers saying it has a 6:1 benefit to cost ratio.

Homelessness
Did not join the 2016 cross-party inquiry into homelessness.
National blocked the 2016 select committee inquiry into homelessness

Jacinda Ardern, Labour

State Housing
Committed to end the dividend on Housing New Zealand, and end state house sales.
Opposed National's 2015 Social Housing Reform Programme, which aimed to sell 8000 state houses by 2017.
Voted against the 2016 Social Housing Reform Bill which allowed government to transfer social housing over to community providers.

Building Homes
Committed to build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 years, with 50 percent in Auckland.

Capital Gains Tax
A capital gains tax is designed to tax the profit made buying and selling homes, and so reduce property speculation. While her predecessor Andrew Little ruled out a capital gains tax on housing, Ardern has put it back on the table, dubbing the decision a "captain's call". But she hasn't promised one either. She's instead pledged to set up tax working group to make recommendations, ruling out a tax on the family home. She's just announced those recommendations will be taken to the public in the 2020 election to gain a mandate.
Voted for the Taxation Act 2015 to create a "bright line capital gains tax," which charges income tax on properties bought and sold within 2 years.
Committed to extend the bright line test from the current two years to five years.

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Healthy Homes & Insulation
Supported Labour's recent Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, which sets higher standards for insulation and heating in rentals.

Homelessness
Joined the 2016 cross-party inquiry into homelessness, and committed to implementing its recommendations, including increasing state housing stock by 15,000 to 25,000.

Winston Peters, NZ First

State Housing
Opposed National's 2015 Social Housing Reform Programme, which aimed to sell 8000 state houses by 2017.
Voted against the 2016 Social Housing Reform Bill which allowed government to transfer social housing over to community providers.

Capital Gains Tax
Voted against the Taxation Act 2015 to create a "bright line capital gains tax," which charges income tax on properties bought and sold within two years.

Healthy Homes & Insulation
Supported Labour's Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, which sets higher standards for insulation in both public and private rentals.
Committed to subsidies to insulate 53,000 houses every year.

Homelessness
Did not join the 2016 cross-party inquiry into homelessness.

James Shaw, Greens

State Housing
Opposed National's 2015 Social Housing Reform Programme, which aimed to sell 8000 state houses by 2017.
Voted against the 2016 Social Housing Reform Bill which allowed government to transfer social housing over to community providers.
Committed to increase acquisition and building of state housing units by 3000 units a year for the next 3 years.

Building Homes
Under the Memorandum of Understanding with Labour, the greens are backing Kiwibuild, the scheme to build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 years.

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Capital Gains Tax
Shaw has committed to a capital gains tax, saying it would be a Green Party priority if they were to form the next government.
Voted for the Taxation Act 2015 to create a "bright line capital gains tax," which charges income tax on properties bought and sold within two years.

Healthy Homes & Insulation
Supported Labour's Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, making a note of questioning the Government's decision to end subsidies for home insulation, as outlined in this year's budget.
Argued against the halting of an insulation scheme that under National is due to be halted.
Shaw said, "If a 6:1 benefit-cost ratio to tackle a problem that puts kids in hospital 40,000 times, and kills more people than the road toll every year, doesn't meet the criteria to be considered a good social investment, what does?"

Homelessness
Joined the 2016 cross-party inquiry into homelessness.
Committed to make it legally binding duty for the public sector to ensure housing needs are met.

Marama Fox, Māori Party

State Housing
Voted for the 2016 Social Housing Reform Bill which allowed government to transfer social housing over to community providers.
Committed to freezing rents on all social housing stock.

Building Homes
Launched Kāinga Ora, the Māori housing network, with $19.5 million to support housing projects for whanau. The scheme has so far supported 140 projects.

Capital Gains Tax
Voted for the Taxation Act 2015 to create a "bright line capital gains tax," which charges income tax on properties bought and sold within two years.

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Healthy Homes & Insulation
Supported Labour's Healthy Homes Bill, which sets higher standards for insulation in both public and private rentals.
In 2016, Fox claimed credit for the increase in funding for emergency housing, saying the Māori Party pushed hard on the issue through the ministerial committee on poverty. She said, "They spent zero dollars on emergency housing when we came into government…they're now spending $300 million."

Homelessness
Committed to creating a Minister for Māori and Pacific Housing to address the housing inequalities homelessness and home ownership.
Joined the 2016 cross-party inquiry into homelessness.

Paula Bennett, National

State Housing
In 2015 National began the Social Housing Reform Programme, aiming to sell 8000 state houses by 2017.
Introduced and voted for the 2016 Social Housing Reform Bill which allowed government to transfer social housing over to community providers.

Building Homes
Has started the $1b Housing Infrastructure Trust, which lends money to councils for infrastructure to support housing.
National has announced a build of 34,000 new houses for Auckland, over 10 years, including 13,500 new social houses and 20,600 affordable and market homes.

Capital Gains Tax
Voted for the Taxation Act 2015 to create a "bright line capital gains tax," which charges income tax on properties bought and sold within 2 years.

Healthy Homes & Insulation
National voted against Labour's Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, which sets higher standards for insulation in both public and private rentals.
National, however, supported a bill of their own requiring more insulation and fire alarms.
The National government also rolled out a programme to subsidise insulation, but the scheme is due to be halted, despite researchers saying it has a 6:1 benefit to cost ratio.

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Homelessness
Did not join the 2016 cross-party inquiry into homelessness.
National blocked the 2016 select committee inquiry into homelessness.

Kelvin Davis, Labour

State Housing
Opposed National's 2015 Social Housing Reform Programme, which aimed to sell 8000 state houses by 2017.
Voted against the 2016 Social Housing Reform Bill which allowed government to transfer social housing over to community providers.

Building Homes
Committed to build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 years, with 50 percent in Auckland.

Capital Gains Tax
Voted for the Taxation Act 2015 to create a "bright line capital gains tax," which charges income tax on properties bought and sold within two years.
Pledged to set up a tax working group to make recommendations, ruling out a tax on the family home.

Healthy Homes & Insulation
Davis voted for the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, which sets higher standards for heating and insulation in rentals. He has been vocal about housing when it comes to discussion around affordability for Māori, promising a Māori Housing Unit to specifically address the housing needs of Māori.

Homelessness
Joined the 2016 cross-party inquiry into homelessness.

Stephen Joyce, National

State Housing
In 2015 National began the Social Housing Reform Programme, aiming to sell 8000 state houses by 2017.
Voted for the 2016 Social Housing Reform Bill which allowed government to transfer social housing over to community providers.

Building Homes
National has started a $1b Housing Infrastructure Trust, which lends money to councils for infrastructure to support housing.

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Capital Gains Tax
Voted for the Taxation Act 2015 to create a "bright line capital gains tax," which charges income tax on properties bought and sold within two years.

Healthy Homes & Insulation
National voted against Labour's Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, which sets higher standards for insulation in both public and private rentals.

Homelessness
Did not join the 2016 cross-party inquiry into homelessness.
National blocked the 2016 select committee inquiry into homelessness.

Gerry Brownlee, National

State Housing
In 2015 National began the Social Housing Reform Programme, aiming to sell 8000 state houses by 2017.
Voted for the 2016 Social Housing Reform Bill which allowed government to transfer social housing over to community providers.

Building Homes
National has started a $1b Housing Infrastructure Trust, which lends money to councils for infrastructure to support housing.

Capital Gains Tax
Voted for the Taxation Act 2015 to create a "bright line capital gains tax," which charges income tax on properties bought and sold within 2 years.

Healthy Homes & Insulation
National voted against Labour's Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, which sets higher standards for insulation in both public and private rentals.

Homelessness
Did not join the 2016 cross-party inquiry into homelessness.
National blocked the 2016 select committee inquiry into homelessness

Andrew Little, Labour

State Housing
Opposed National's 2015 Social Housing Reform Programme, which aimed to sell 8000 state houses by 2017.
Voted against the 2016 Social Housing Reform Bill which allowed government to transfer social housing over to community providers.

Building Homes
Committed to build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 years, with 50 percent in Auckland.

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Capital Gains Tax
Ruled out introducing a new capital gains tax as leader of the Labour PArty. Voted for the Taxation Act 2015 to create a "bright line capital gains tax," which charges income tax on properties bought and sold within two years.

Healthy Homes & Insulation
Little's Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, which sets standards for heating and insulation in rentals has just reached its second reading. Little says the bill will make "a safe and healthy life in rental homes in New Zealand a reality for the children of New Zealand and their parents".

Homelessness
Joined the 2016 cross-party inquiry into homelessness, and committed to implementing its recommendations, including increasing state housing stock by 15,000 to 25,000.

**READ MORE: Which MPs Care About Child Poverty? **Which NZ MPs are Racist?

Got an election issue you want VICE to investigate, something we've missed, or a tip on an MP's record you think we should mention? Email tess.mcclure@vice.com

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