May 06, 2016
Healthy homes a defence against poverty
Tamaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare says Labour's Healthy Homes Bill is a significant contribution to the battle against poverty in New Zealand.
The bill in the name of Labour leader Andrew Little passed its first reading with the support of the Maori Party, United Future's Peter Dunne, the Greens and New Zealand First qande as sentto a select committee allowing a wider debate on housing issues.
Mr Henare says as an electorate MP he sees how poor housing causes health problems.
The bill calls for better insulation standards, proper heating in homes, and ventilation to prevent the build up of mould.
"We believe it's part of a wider conversation around poverty. We know if we get those homes up to standard we can see better education outcomes from our tamariki, better health outcomes for our tamariki and whanau, so it is a great step forward. We hope we can get it all the way through to the third reading. We've won one battle. We've just got to win the war," Mr Henare says.
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