Found this earlier
Ties in with my post tomorrow on the Transport Accord and why Council should say “NO!”
Dear Mr Key,
I will aim to keep this short and not take up too much of your time. I will also try to keep my emotions from tainting my words but it may be rather difficult so please do forgive me if that is what happens during the course of this email. The reason I have contacted you is mostly to give you a personal account of how the housing crisis is affecting young couples in Auckland (and in other areas of NZ) and to let you know that the struggle is real. The struggle is also isolating because young renters only have each other as allies, so I have written to you on behalf of them, on behalf of all of us who just can’t take the insanity anymore.
My story
My partner and I don’t want anything flash nor do we care about living in the city…
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Talking Southern Auckland 
I guess it seemed partly like a political beat up as Jonkey is a Donkey is from the puppet show joke put on at Council funded festivals – which annoys me – when they could better spend their money on community facilities or transport or something to improve the housing situation. My bad as I thought 10% was the rate and I think under home start you can do %10 but 20% is a tough grind. Central Gov. deserves some credit as Kiwisaver, and Employer Contributions , and Home start loans and bonuses are all new for this generation. But the immigration is under their power and they’ve got a few levers they could pull. But a cut to the growth could slow house prices but also job availability and incomes . Council also deserves some of the credit for your woes. And finally I think what first home owners are looking for is not any home, they want a nice home in a cool neighbourhood, that has community , and belonging and transport, and walkability etc. So I hope Council does good growth with good design. Because although there is an immediate situation, ultimately we want homes and neighbourhoods that are well designed and great places to live for generations to come. So getting more houses is important, but getting it right is equally important. Good luck. I hope you get the home you want. And hang in there.
Thanks Esther what an awesome reply. It’s good to know my pretty off the cuff move to write this email has incited intelligent debate and getting us to educate each other instead of having online slanging matches that I have witnessed elsewhere about the housing situation. I’ll do my best to educate myself over what is going on (who is to blame), what’s next and what my options are. Quite frankly, I’d love to pack my bags and go elsewhere in NZ or go the hell home. However, for now I’m digging deep and hoping for the best.
Cheers!
Angela
It’s a bit rich to blame the whole housing crisis on John Key although he has some responsibility. Auckland Council also has control over development and housing availability. It’s also part of being in an economic boom. With $30k in savings and an inheritance coming this person is almost there. She also has a partner. Double tick. There is a really cool 4 bed in Waitarua right now with a price tage of $580k. It has a beautiful big section with grass and bush and house in good condition built with solid materials. So she has $30k and say her inheritance is only $10k.. She’s already up to $40k. She needs just $18k more. That’s not too bad if there are two of them working. With a four bedroom house they’d have an extra room or two to rent to help them get settled in and make any purchases. The deposit she claims to need of $100k would give her 10% on a Million dollar home – which is aspirational rather than realistic for a first home buyer.
Hi Esther,
Appreciate what you are saying and for me it wasn’t about blaming Jonkey, it was more about the pain in my heart and head over the situation and thinking who can help??! The leader of the country seemed like a good start. I’m under no illusion that the letter will do nothing and go nowhere but it sure did feel good writing it all down. Unfortunately, my partner and I would need 20% deposit for the property you mentioned. We would need a deposit of $116,000 for that particular price range. It’s all a bit dreary I’m afraid….