Politicians join state house scrap
A Hastings neighbourhood is up in arms about gang members and their affiliates in state housing, and now the two main political parties are at odds over the situation.
Housing and Development’s National Party spokeswoman Judith Collins is accusing Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford for being soft on crime and allowing anti-social tenants to stay in social housing, while law-abiding people are forced to leave.
“Mr Twyford and HNZ Chief Executive Andrew McKenzie confirmed back in June that anti-social social housing tenants will be allowed to stay in their properties and neighbours won’t be able to do anything about it.
“A neighbourhood in Hastings has been disrupted with constant noise from gang members and regular visits from the police, despite multiple complaints to Housing New Zealand.”
“It’s not right that the Government’s soft-on-crime stance and ‘no eviction’ policy is resulting in innocent, lawabiding people being forced to move while their violent gang member neighbours continue living in taxpayer-funded housing with no consequences for their bad behaviour.” Collins accused Twyford for getting his priorities wrong.
“Mr Twyford has his priorities completely wrong, he should be ensuring law-abiding families are able to continue living their lives without fear of their neighbours, instead he’s willing to protect tenants who are involved in criminal behaviour and disrupting the entire street.”
Twyford blamed Collins for her “scaremongering” tactics.
“Judith Collins is scaremongering to say Housing NZ has a no evictions policy. Their policy is to try to sustain tenancies, as those evicted from state houses often end up homeless and become a greater burden on our health, social and justice sectors. As a last resort Housing NZ can and will evict tenants.”
He said he felt for the Hastings family but the issue was not state housing.
“I know from my work as an electorate MP in West Auckland how disruptive and stressful antisocial neighbours can be and I feel for this family.
“However, antisocial behaviour can come from any neighbour, not just from the four per cent of New Zealanders that live in state housing. Unlike antisocial neighbours in private housing, Housing NZ has the opportunity to work with their tenants to resolve such issues.”
He said history was a great reminder of what happens when Housing New Zealand tenants get evicted.
“New Zealanders are well aware of the dangers of Housing NZ evicting tenants to make Ministers look tough, as was done with the meth fiasco under Judith Collins’ government.”
Collins said it was not scaremongering to blame the government for being soft on crime.
“Mr Twyford needs to take control of Housing New Zealand. A home should be a safe haven for families, not a place of intimidation and fear.”