Destructive housing policies must end

6 November 2012

Media statement Health Care Aotearoa

Destructive housing policies must end

Health Care Aotearoa, the national organisation representing many community-owned primary health providers in low income communities, is supporting the presentation to Parliament tomorrow of a petition calling for end to destructive state housing policies of Housing New Zealand.

“Housing New Zealand’s actions in the wholesale demolition of homes in Maraenui, Pomare and Glen Innes has ignored the voices of these communities about the redesign of housing in their neighbourhoods” said Health Care Aotearoa Co-ordinator Muriel Tunoho.

“On top of this, Housing New Zealand’s new policies are doing little to address the alarming shortage of affordable housing, particularly for vulnerable families in New Zealand”.

“In Pomare, Housing New Zealand tenants were given magnificent promises about the gradual redesign of their neighbourhood housing to make life better for themselves and their families,” she said.

“However, their homes were bulldozed and the tenants and their families were relocated away from their familiar neighbourhood and community support. It is now a year later and not one state house has been rebuilt in this community.”

“A critical factor to good health is good housing and cohesive communities”.

“Housing displacement and relocation, particularly for vulnerable families and communities can have adverse health impacts on them, including stress, loss, grieving and poorer mental health”.

Muriel Tunoho said Government must heed the message being raised by the housing petition.

“Government must change the destructive policies of Housing New Zealand in low income suburbs such as Pomare, Maraenui and Glen Innes,” she said.

ENDS

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