Introduced and passed through all stages following the May 21 Budget. It creates a ministerial direction power to enter into tailored agreements with social housing providers. Among other things, ministerial directions could allow the agency to purchase social housing places into the future, to fund vacant social housing that may be under repair or awaiting an urgent placement, to pay more or less than the income-related rent subsidy, and generally to enable arrangements that respond to social housing need. Supported by National, Maori Party, ACT and United Future. Those opposed said it would benefit private developers through the sale of state homes and erode  the state’s responsibility to provide social housing. Social Housing Reform (Flexible Purchasing and Remedial Matters) Bill