Beneficiary asks judge to ditch eviction order
An Auckland beneficiary will find out next week if she will be evicted from her social home when a High Court ruling is released.
Glen Innes resident Niki Rauti has been fighting to stay in her home since being issued a 90-day eviction notice in October by housing development company Tamaki Regeneration Company (TRC).
Her home was one of 2800 state homes TRC planned to demolish and replace with 7500 new homes over the next 15 years.
TRC is jointly owned by the Government and the Auckland Council.
Rauti first disputed her first eviction notice in October and took her case to the Auckland District Court in May in an attempt to appeal a possession order of her home, granted by the Tenancy Tribunal in February.
In June, the Auckland District Court upheld the Tenancy Tri- bunal’s judgment, giving TRC the legal right to evict Rauti.
However, in July she announced she would be taking TRC to the High Court.
Rauti, along with a group of 50 supporters, marched on Symonds St from the University of Auckland to the High Court in Auckland yesterday morning.
Rauti said she was good’’ about the case.
Lisa Gibson, a representative from the group, said they were very optimistic of a victory.
The public gallery was full and police were in the back of the courtroom.
Justice Lang reserved decision until next week.
Rauti is supported by a government benefit and has lived at her Taniwha St home since 1985.
Her house is one of six properties to be demolished together and replaced with 12 new fourbedroom houses, expected to be completed by April.
TRC has previously offered Rauti a newly built home to move into.
However, those houses were not good enough, Rauti said.
Rauti’s lawyer is Justin Harder, who is working pro bono. ‘‘feeling his