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Mr Key told a public meeting in Hobsonville last night that he will axe plans by the government to build social housing on the Crown land development.

"The housing planned for Hobsonville is essential for communities in this fast growing area of Auckland where young families are finding it very difficult to find homes they can afford to live in. The development will have up to 3000 homes, including 500 state houses and 500 affordable homes for first home buyers.

"Businesses are also crying out for workers who will need to be housed near the centre of the desired economic development," she said.

Labour MP and Helensville candidate Darien Fenton was at the Hobsonville meeting and said  "the lack of available housing for workers on lower incomes is a real issue in this electorate. We're building this development on Crown land and we have a responsibilty to the whole community, not just a few."

"Mr Key has traded on his rags to riches story of growing up in a state house but now appears determined to pull the ladder up behind him and deny the same assistance to struggling families," Maryan Street said.

"The Labour-led government has added over 7800 homes to the state housing stock since 1999, spending $221 million on new acquisitions last year alone.

We need more state homes to ensure low income families have a roof over their heads and are able to access employment opportunities in urban areas.

"National's plan to abandon the state house rebuilding programme is particularly irresponsible in these uncertain economic times.  The scale of cuts to government spending needed to help fund National's reckless and unaffordable tax cuts is becoming clearer by the day," Maryan Street said.

"Its Hobsonville stance also raises questions about whether other state house tenants will find themselves pushed out of urban centres, to fund National's election bribe for tax cuts on top of what is already coming on stream."

"Mr Key has now taken several different positions on this housing development, depending on the audience he is addressing. These multiple flip-flops demonstrate that he can't be trusted to look after the interests of New Zealanders.

In June 2006 John Key said on National Radio:

‘So you're talking about very expensive land. I mean I would describe it as economic vandalism frankly to be doing what Housing New Zealand are proposing.'

He has also said "National are committed to cancelling it, once we get back into Government."

Yet in February 2008 he told National Radio:

‘But if you look at government land well Hobsonville is in my electorate, they've identified that as a place where affordable housing could be built. I agree with them..."   "

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