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Why did she say that social housing tenants had "won the lotto"?

Answered Question 20284 (2026)
Question published
Reply lodged

Asked by

Tamatha Paul

Member for Wellington Central · Green Party

Question

  • Why did she say that social housing tenants had "won the lotto"?

Answered by

Hon Nicola Willis

List MP · National Party · Minister of Finance

Answer

In answer to a question from a journalist, I said people in social housing “effectively have won the Lotto”. I regret using this phrase because people living in social housing are often in very difficult circumstances and the phrase I used implied otherwise. I reached for the wrong metaphor when trying to make a point about fairness in the housing system. I will not be using this phrase again.