Mt Cook f lats under scrutiny
Claims of dealers selling drugs to Wellington High School pupils out of inner-city Housing New Zealand flats are being monitored by police amid residents’ concerns over crime in Mt Cook.
The Rolleston St flats in Mt Cook are situated near the school, which has 1250 pupils.
Late last term, four boys from the college were stood down after buying drugs from the 54-unit residentia; complex.
Principal Dominic Killalea said the boys, who were now back at school, were referred to youth aid and underwent drug counselling.
The co-ed school is surrounded by social housing and a night shelter is across the road on Taranaki St.
‘‘We’re vulnerable in that we are close to the city so if there are people in difficult situations in their lives it can place pressure on the school,’’ Killalea said.
The school had no bigger problem with drugs than any other school, he said.
Rolleston St residents and those who live in the flats spoken to by Stuff said there were issues with drugs, gangs and crime with occasional police raids adding to the tension in the suburb.
Wellington area prevention manager Inspector Dean Silvester said Housing New Zealand had been in touch with police about the flats and officers were doing ‘‘preventative patrols’’ in the area.
‘‘Currently, police are not aware of any major issues of concern to the community. However, we do recognise that we are not always made aware of all incidents that may have occurred.’’
Housing New Zealand spokesman Paul Clearwater said the agency had recently been informed of some drug-related activity at the flats and was working with police.
City councillor Brian Dawson, who holds Wellington City Council’s social development and housing portfolio, said he was aware of issues with loitering and drinking in and around the flats. He had also heard claims of drugdealing on the premises.
Dawson said that he expected police would be taking drug dealing and gang crime seriously and would ‘‘step in with haste’’.
Issues with the complex meant it was all the more pressing the flats were redeveloped, Dawson said.
Housing NZ is planning the redevelopment and it is understood a ‘‘high-dependency’’ home for alcoholics and addicts could be part of the new complex.
Mt Cook Mobilised spokesman Peter Cooke lives near the flats and said he was aware of ‘‘tinnie houses’’ selling cannabis out of the flats in the past.
Other residents had told him of suspicious behaviour. If drugdealing was going on it would be of ‘‘grave concern’’ but the area had been relatively quiet lately.
Cooke also supported the redevelopment of the flats, saying it could revitalise the area.