Service marks ‘housing crisis’

Anglicans are calling for a political solution to the country’s housing crisis, lamenting the fact people are homeless while Housing New Zealand land lies empty.

Awapuni residents watched as about 50 people held a service of lament on vacant Housing NZ land yesterday on Raleigh St, Palmerston North.

The Anglican Church’s Wellington diocese held services in the Wellington region and Palmerston North. Most of them, including the Raleigh St service, were on land that previously had state houses on them.

The Palmerston North service, led by Reverend Tim Duxfield, involved prayer, Bible readings and songs sung in te reo Maori.

Worshippers also scattered wildflowers on the land – something Duxfield said was ‘‘a sign of hope and blessing’’ – while local children played a game of touch rugby on the adjoining reserve.

Duxfield said the service was a way of ‘‘crying out’’ about the housing crisis.

There had been a month-long prayer vigil leading up to the services, as the church looked for a solution to homelessness, he said.

‘‘There is a huge need for social housing in this city.’’

The church was not having a go at Housing NZ or condemning the organisation, but wanted to see something done, he said.

‘‘We are saying this needs to be an election issue. We want Government policy enacted that solves the housing crisis in New Zealand.’’

The service happened the same week that both Labour and National announced plans for more state and social houses in Palmerston North.

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern visited Farnham Park in Highbury, a well-known state house area, to say her party would build 149 houses – half state houses, half to be sold at cost to first-home buyers – on vacant Housing NZ land in the city.

Soon after, National put out a statement saying it would build 70 new social houses and 30 shortterm transitional housing places.

A Housing NZ spokesman said it was looking at how to best use the Palmerston North land.

Almost all the houses were demolished because they were not safe, while the others were not up to modern standards.

‘‘Redevelopment plans were not prepared at the time as there was a relatively low level of social housing demand and this was forecast to continue.’’