Prime Minister won't give reason why Kiwibuild boss isn't at work, saying it's 'an employment issue'

December 11, 2018

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development issued a statement saying CEO Stephen Barclay is away from work but has not resigned.

The Prime Minister is refusing to be drawn on the reason the boss of the Government's Kiwibuild programme isn't at work.

Yesterday the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development issued a statement saying chief executive Stephen Barclay is away from work but has not resigned.  

Today Jacinda Ardern told TVNZ1's Breakfast it is inappropriate for her to comment on the issue.

"It's not really appropriate that I do (comment) it's not a matter for me, it is an employment issue so it is being dealt with at that level.  I have been given the reassurance that it hasn't got anything to do with Kiwibuild."

Mr Barclay's absence from work comes after only 300 of 40,000 of people who expressed interest in the Kiwibuild program followed through with the application process.

Of the building developments in Wanaka and Te Kauwhata four of the 20 homes have been sold.

The Housing Minister has confirmed Stephen Barclay is embroiled in an employment dispute.

"What we're learning with Kiwibuild is people are much more inclined to purchase once they've built rather than necessarily off plan," Ms Ardern says.

"I don't think it's a sign of lack of interest, we've had tens of thousands of people register their interest in Kiwibuild, we've encouraged them to wait for the next step of getting their finance sorted until the houses are available because otherwise they go through a large process without the really important step at the end."

Ms Ardern says there are a lot of factors contributing to the housing crisis but she does think Kiwibuild is making a difference overall.

She says there are other issues around what is happening with large scale developments and the pace at which the Government are able to deliver those.

"That's what the Urban Development Authority's all about, but that's going to take a bit of time to get that up and running, so Kiwibuild's important in the meantime."

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