Media release
Stand Up Youth Union Movement
Unions Auckland

23 September 2016

Stand Up for Housing: Protest tomorrow in Aotea Square

Young people, union members, and other Aucklanders will meet in Aotea Square tomorrow to make some noise about the devastating Auckland housing crisis.

Stand Up Youth Union Movement and Unions Auckland are hosting the Monopoly-themed event, which will highlight the damaging effects of the crisis and call on local and central government to do a lot more to fix the housing market.

Spokesperson Hamish Hutchinson says that the crisis is one of the country’s biggest problems.

“The average Auckland house price is now over a million dollars, and that’s totally out of reach for most,” Hamish says.

“If you don’t own a home yet, you’ve essentially been locked out of homeownership in Auckland for life. Housing should be a human right, and instead it’s been left to investors and speculators to abuse for private gain.

“With the current rate of house price inflation, the amount needed just for a deposit is growing faster than what the vast majority of people can save.

“For young people today, it’s like starting a game of Monopoly without even enough cash to even buy the very cheapest property on the board. Meanwhile, those who played before us still hold all the cards.

“We’re assembling tomorrow to express a deep anger for being cheated off the board. It’s time to change the rules of the game,” Hamish says.

Stand Up for Housing Rights action
When - Saturday 24 September, 1-2pm
Where - Aotea Square, Queen St, Auckland

ENDS

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