Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
The local government minister cannot guarantee a rates cap will not cause higher costs for tens of thousands of social housing tenants.
Simon Watts said the final rates cap policy was still being designed, but did not anticipate it would cause higher costs for those living in roughly 10,000 council-owned rental homes.
Advice from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD) to the Department of Internal Affairs said if rate rises were restricted and replaced with more user charges then the impact would likely be a rent increase for those living in council homes, which was predominantly pensioners.
It would also lead to increased levels of housing need, MHUD said.
Green MP Tamatha Paul said this "crucial
Continue Reading on RNZ
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.