Pensioners worried as rent review looms

Marlborough pensioner Jenni Schreuder, 67, is not able to ask for help paying her rent because she has more than $10,000 in her bank account.

But that money is for her funeral.

Schreuder lives in a onebedroom council flat in central Blenheim. A report presented to the Marlborough District Council last week suggested it might need to increase its senior housing rent by about 35 per cent, to stay in line with its own policy of charging 80 per cent of the current market rate.

That would be $66 a week more for a one-bed unit, and $78 a week more for a two-bedroom unit.

‘‘I would have nothing left of my pension,’’ Schreuder said. ‘‘I would have to start pennypinching. I wouldn’t be able to use my car as often.’’

The Marlborough District Council owned 174 units in Marlborough, most of which were built in the 1960s and 1970s. The Vevian Place cul-de-sac, where Schreuder lives, was dotted with senior housing flats.

Schreuder said a 35 per cent rent increase would be ‘‘impossible’’ for many of her neighbours. ‘‘I’m lucky I worked up until I retired, and I’ve got a small Super I can fall back on, but there are many things we won’t be able to do.’’

Schreuder said she put money away so her children didn’t have to pay for her funeral.

‘‘I can’t go to Work and Income and ask for rent assistance, or any other type of assistance, while I have that money in the bank. So my choice would be to spend that or to expect my children to pay for my service.

‘‘I personally can’t see how they can lump that sort of increase on to people all at one time.’’

Figures put to the housing for seniors subcommittee, which oversees the council’s senior housing portfolio, showed it was charging pensioners about $175 a week in rent for a one-bed unit, or about $225 a week for a two-bed.

The rent for an average onebedroom flat in Blenheim was $300 a week, while the rent for a two-bedroom flat was $380.

Housing for seniors subcommittee chairwoman Cynthia Brooks explained the market rate was provided by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, based on all bonds taken from similar rental properties across the region.

Charging 80 per cent of the market rate was ‘‘in effect ... a subsidy for our elderly community members’’, she said.

Brooks stressed no decision had been made yet on rent increases for senior housing.

The Vevian Place cul-de-sac was off George St, where the council was hoping to build a dozen more one-bedroom units. Concerns were raised this week that plans for the two-storey complex did not include a lift.

Vevian Place resident Lynn Evans used to own the land where the new George St complex

A 33-year-old man alleged to have made false bomb threats against Cook Strait ferry services has been denied bail.

Harley John Davies appeared in the Blenheim District Court on Tuesday on a charge of threatening to harm people and property.

Police allege that Davies threatened that there was a bomb on board an Interislander ferry and a Bluebridge ferry on Monday morning. The charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment.

Through duty lawyer Philip Watson, Davies sought bail. However, this was denied by Judge Jo Rielly.

The threat saw police search two ferries and the Picton ferry terminal on Monday, forcing passengers to disembark and face long delays. Specialist police staff arrived by helicopter from Wellington to search both ferries about 10.35am, 21⁄2 hours after passengers were first asked to disembark.

Marlborough area commander Inspector Simon Feltham said nothing of significance had been