ACT leader’s letter ‘fuelling prejudices’

The Mental Health Foundation is ‘‘appalled’’ by a ‘‘stigmatising letter’’ ACT leader David Seymour wrote warning that new social housing could bring in people with ‘‘mental health issues’’.

Seymour says he was simply setting out ‘‘the facts of the matter’’.

His letter to his Epsom constituents concerns an application by Housing New Zealand to redevelop a block of land on Banff Ave, Auckland, and turn it into a five-storey, 25-unit block.

Seymour’s letter to residents, inviting them to a public meeting with Housing NZ last Wednesday, set out his concerns with the proposed development.

Most of these surrounded infrastructure, but for one line: ‘‘There is also a chance that some of the residents will have social and mental health issues who will need to have special support measures in place.’’

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson said Seymour held an influential position that could shape public opinion.

‘‘Mr 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,’’ he said.

‘‘It is simply irresponsible, incorrect and disrespectful to continue to feed into the misguided and sensationalist narrative that people living with mental health problems are in- herently unsafe to be around. We know that people who live with mental illness are far more likely to be subjected to violent crime than they are to be the perpetrators.’’

Seymour said the foundation was weighing into a situation it ‘‘hadn’t sought to understand’’.

‘‘Any time they want to come and visit the area, they are quite welcome.’’

Housing Minister Phil Twyford also said he was appalled by Seymour’s behaviour.

‘‘David Seymour is fuelling people’s worst prejudices,’’ Twyford said. ‘‘He was scaremongering.

‘‘It is irresponsible for an MP, particularly a party leader, to be stigmatising those with mental health issues.’’

Seymour said that as a minister, Twyford should be attempting to fix issues, not politicise his language.

He said that while social housing had long had a place in Epsom, and he had even helped people into homes as a local MP, residents near Banff Ave had experienced problems in the past.

‘‘I’d like to invite Phil Twyford to come to southern Epsom and speak to the residents and explain why it is that they have been subject to public urination, a woman grabbed while she was out for a run, people being constantly harassed and asked for money at the shopping centre.’’

Seymour said he did not have concrete data on whether there was more crime near the site, but local business associations said there was. ‘‘These people’s concerns are driven by their actual experience.’’

Soon after talking to Stuff, Seymour sent out a press release inviting Twyford to another meeting with residents, saying he would be happy to set one up.

National leader Simon Bridges said he wouldn’t use the same language Seymour had but wasn’t going to ‘‘bag’’ him either. Whanau Ora missed out but Ma¯ori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta has highlighted a $7 million contingency in the Budget for the Whenua Ma¯ori programme. It will support services for Ma¯ori freehold land owners. ‘‘The funding can be drawn down once Cabinet has had an opportunity to consider options for responding to the challenges associated with Ma¯ori freehold land and agreed on a way forward,’’ Mahuta said. The recently launched forestry service, Te Uru Ra¯kau, is working with Ma¯nuka Farming NZ to plant 1.8 million ma¯nuka trees this year. Forestry Minister Shane Jones said the Government’s plan to plant 1 billion trees over the next 10 years would require ‘‘innovation and genuine partnerships’’. Te Uru Ra¯kau would provide up to $1.8 million to Ma¯nuka Farming. Seedlings would be provided free to landowners who proceeded with planting, Jones said.

‘‘There is also a chance that some of the residents will have social and mental health issues who will need to have special support measures in place.’’ ACT leader David Seymour in a letter to Epsom constituents