Questions are being raised about whether affordable housing can be achieved in a proposed new development in the Auckland suburb of Tamaki.
 
Five thousand new homes will be going up there in a private public partnership.

Finance Minister Bill English says it will be a mix of social housing and affordable homes.

But Professor Bob Hargreaves of Massey University is sceptical about affordability of the houses.

"I can't think of one place in New Zealand where affordable housing has been achieved through this type of development.

"I mean out in Hobsonville, they're talking about it being affordable - by my standards it's pretty expensive."