Time’s up for Glen Innes council tenant
‘‘We understand this is a difficult time for Ms Rauti but TRC has been transparent with her about the redevelopment plans...’’
Time is running out for an Auckland beneficiary refusing eviction from her Glen Innes home.
Ioela Rauti, also known as Niki, had an application for a stay proceeding declined on Tuesday, meaning a stay protecting her from bailiffs and police entering her home had been lifted.
Rauti, a tenant of Tamaki Regeneration Company (TRC), has been refusing to leave her Glen Innes home since being issued with an eviction notice in October.
TRC is a housing development company, jointly owned by the Government and Auckland Council.
Rauti, who lives on a government benefit, said she moved to the Taniwha St home in 1985 to look after her sick mum.
Her two-bedroom home in Taniwha St is one of 2800 state houses earmarked by TRC to be replaced with 7500 new homes over the next 15 years.
The house is one of six properties to be demolished together and replaced with 12 new, four bedroom houses.
The new houses are expected to be completed by April 2018.
TRC general housing manager Neil Porteous said it would be working with authorities to obtain legal possession of the property.
He would not say when action would be taken.
Porteous said they were still willing to talk with Rauti about her specific housing needs.
They were willing to show her one of the properties they have available for her.
‘‘We understand this is a difficult time for Ms Rauti but TRC has been transparent with her about the redevelopment plans and tried to communicate with her at every opportunity,’’ Porteous said.
Rauti, in January, said houses offered to her by TRC were not good enough.
Her legal representative, Lisa Gibson said she would keep trying with legal proceedings.
They had requested another stay of proceedings appeal with the district court on Wednesday.
Hundreds of anti-eviction protesters have been conducting sit-in’s outside of Rauti’s property since January.