Health body slams Act MP’s letter

David Seymour’s letter to Epsom residents about a planned Housing New Zealand project has been slammed by the Mental Health Foundation as stigmatising mental health.

But a resident of the street marked for the development says they asked Seymour to organise the meeting to help them make their voices heard after Housing NZ was unresponsive.

In the letter, the Epsom MP and Act Party leader invited residents to voice their concerns at a public meeting and said the development would put pressure on local infrastructure.

He added: “There is also a chance that some of the future residents will have social and mental health issues who will need to have special support measures in place.”

Housing NZ has applied to the Auckland Council to replace a rundown residential building with a fivestorey, 25-unit complex on Banff Ave.

The public meeting on Thursday was a fiery affair, and Seymour had to step in after residents became furious with Housing NZ officials.

Housing Minister Phil Twyford said Seymour was scaremongering by using such language in the letter.

The Mental Health Foundation also criticised the Act leader, saying stigma and discrimination were two of the biggest barriers to recovery for people living with mental illness.

“Seymour’s letter and comments serve only to reinforce negative stereotypes and portray people living with mental illness as a public nuisance, or something to be feared.

“It is simply irresponsible, incorrect and disrespectful.”