Michael Woodhouse MP: Helping people into homes

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Helping people into homes

The National-led Government has launched a new programme making it easier for first-time buyers and people on lower incomes to build or purchase their own homes.

Gateway Housing Assistance helps buyers build or buy a property but defer payment on the land for up to ten years. This allows people on lower incomes to concentrate on designing and building, or buying, their homes before they take on the additional burden of paying for the land.

Community housing organisations are being actively targeted for the scheme as they can develop land and use the repayment terms to build even more affordable housing. So far 30 parcels of Crown or Housing New Zealand land are in the scheme.

The National-led Government already supports housing affordability through measures including Kiwisaver First Home Deposit Subsidy, the First Home Withdrawal, Welcome Home Loans, the Housing Innovation Fund, and the Tenant Home Ownership Programme.

More information: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/gateway+improve+housing+affordability+0

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Background:

I was most recently the Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Hospital Dunedin, a position I held for 7 ½ years. Previous to that I held senior management positions with ACC, where I was instrumental in implementing ACC’s Elective Services Contracting framework and at Dunedin Hospital in change management, revenue and planning roles.

I was educated at St Pauls High School (now Kavanagh College) and graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. I am a Chartered Accountant and also have a Master of Health Administration from the University of New South Wales.

I was also the President of the NZ Private Surgical Hospitals Association and have also been the Vice President of the NZ Private Hospitals Association, a larger organisation which included the private aged care sector. I am also a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management and the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

I have been a Rotarian since 2001 and am active in community and voluntary work in the region. I am an avid rugby fan, having played age group representative rugby for Otago and South Island teams and am a premier grade referee as well as a “fair weather” runner. My wife Amanda and I and our three daughters have a crib in Cromwell and in our spare time enjoy the great outdoors of Central Otago.

Responsibilities:

I am a member of the Health Select Committee, and of the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee.

I am also a member of the National Party’s Economic and Commerce Caucus Committee.

My Commitment as Your MP:

I firmly believe in the values that underpin the National Party – loyalty, security, equity of opportunity, freedom and choice, limited Government, strong families, caring communities and a sustainable environment.

I commit to maintaining those values and working on your behalf to ensure that these important principles are upheld. Although not an electorate MP, I believe all MPs have a responsibility to represent and advocate for the people in their communities.