Christchurch Central Ward candidates Raf Manji and Hayley Guglietta have pushed back against Alliance Party candidate’s criticisms of their view on housing.
Tom Roud accused Manji of attempting to privatise Christchurch’s social housing when he was a councillor and finance chair in 2014, and said Guglietta’s ‘defending’ of Airbnbs was out of step with the city’s needs.
“In 2014, Raf Manji called it the ‘perfect time’ for the council to sell off its social housing. We can only imagine the disastrous impact on homelessness and housing affordability had he succeeded. Thank goodness he failed,” he said.
“Instead, we now have the Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust, the largest council-owned community housing provider in the country and the envy of other cities. Had Mr Manji’s vision of privatisation won out, the housing crisis in Christchurch would be far worse.”
Roud said he was equally concerned about short-term rentals.
“Short-term rentals deprive our communities of neighbours and residents, leaving people isolated while putting upward pressure on rents. Unlike hotels, they provide next to no local employment. We cannot incentivise developers to build housing designed for short term stays, we need housing that functions as homes for our people,” he said.
The Alliance candidate has called for a major boost in support for ŌCHT, new regulations to limit Airbnbs, and an investigation into expanding social housing eligibility.
“If we can build a stadium for the better part of a billion dollars, we can and must address homelessness and housing affordability. It’s about priorities. My priority is housing our residents, not selling them out.”
Manji said Roud’s claims lacked context. “In 2014 we were grappling with a $1.2b hole in the Council budget, as well as a messy $1b insurance claim. Funding $50m to buy more social housing wasn’t remotely possible,” he said.
“The Council then transferred $45m worth of social housing stock to the new Community Housing Trust (OCHT) along with a $5m cash injection to support its operations.
“Little progress was made by the Council Housing Committee to actually build more social housing, so I helped arrange an initial $30m loan from the Council to the OCHT in 2018 to build new homes. That model is now well established and supported across the political spectrum.
“I suggest Tom actually do a bit of research before spouting off.”
Guglietta also rejected his claims. “Tom Roud’s attack on my record is misleading and oversimplifies a complex challenge. The reality is that social housing delivery in Christchurch has always required careful financial planning and practical, on-the-ground action, not just headlines and rhetoric,” she said.
“Huge amounts of social housing have been delivered locally over the past decade, and I have been actively supporting these projects and building capacity for those who need it most.
“We also need more hotels, more social housing, and stronger support services, but complaining your way out of a crisis doesn’t work.
“My campaign is about rolling up our sleeves, delivering practical outcomes, and ensuring Christchurch residents have safe, affordable, and connected communities.”
