NZ Crisis

PHOTO: The Prime Minister addresses fears of rent increases at her Monday post-Cabinet press conference. Credits: Newshub

ACT says “you can’t pay your rent with Jacinda’s spin” after the Prime Minister’s PR plans to tackle criticism of Labour’s housing policies were exposed in an email inadvertently sent to Stuff.

The package announced last week set off a political firestorm with renters, prospective first-home buyers, economists, welfare advocates, students, property investors and landlords all weighing in on whether it would drive up rental prices.

The Monday morning email from Ardern’s chief press secretary Andrew Campbell asked for evidence “our rent increases have been in line with increases under National” and tasked staff with seeking quotes from economists to help in “arguing against the assumption rents will go up”.

This showed the Government is “concerned about the perception that its new housing policy will raise rents”, Stuff senior political reporter Thomas Coughlan wrote.

The ACT Party’s housing spokesperson Brooke van Velden has seized the issue by warning this is exactly what will happen.

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