Housing developments uproot tenants

More than a thousand beneficiaries have been uplifted to make way for housing developments across Auckland.

Housing New Zealand (HNZ) has relocated 1281 social housing occupants to different homes since April 2016, figures released to Stuff under the Official Information Act show.

About 650 individuals were relocated to a different suburb.

The Ministry of Social Development-contracted Ta¯ maki Regeneration Company (TRC) shifted an additional 56 families consisting of 219 individuals, who resided in the Glen Innes, Pt England or Panmure areas.

TRC is a housing development company, jointly owned by the Government and Auckland Council.

Moving the families cost $11,828, which was paid for by TRC.

A further 170 families voluntarily left the Ta¯ maki area during this period, but because they were not relocated by the TRC their new location was not recorded.

In a written statement, HNZ government relations manager Rachel Kelly said it could only match tenants to homes which were already available, but the ministry did try to move people within their area of choice or as close as possible.

HNZ covered all reasonable costs associated with the move and arranged for a moving truck once a suitable alternative house was found, Kelly said.

While HNZ did not record the total cost associated with moving the 1281 tenants, it did work on the basis of $1000 of moving costs per household, she said.

A tenancy liaison team was also provided to families to keep them informed and assist them throughout the relocation process, she said.

Monte Cecilia Housing Trust chief executive Bernie Smith said tenants being relocated due to redevelopment had become more common over the past few years.

‘‘Typically the Government would have sold off or demolished properties as they have become vacant, rather than moving people out of them to do so,’’ Smith said.

A forced or unexpected move could be traumatising for some families, he said.

‘‘There can be a real nervousness around it because they are moving away from what they know, and where they feel safe.’’

But a change of location could become an opportunity for a new beginning, he said.