Thousands forced to live in camping grounds

Thousands forced to live in camping grounds

Public Health Association media release

17 September 2013

Thousands of New Zealanders unable to access or afford rental houses are being forced to live in camping grounds, the Public Health Association Conference in New Plymouth was told today.

Dr Christina Severinsen from the University of Otago (Wellington) interviewed a number of people living in camping grounds around the country, and said while living in camping grounds was illegal, many had little choice.

“A number of people we spoke to had actually been referred to camping grounds by WINZ, Housing New Zealand, Corrections, social service providers, and Child Youth & Family.

“Generally these people have come from prison, mental health inpatient units or other camping grounds. Due to a lack of housing or discrimination they've faced from landlords, they have little choice but to settle here.”

She said one of the dangers these people face is they have no protection under the Residential Tenancies Act.

“Camping ground owners are happy to open their grounds to long-term dwellers as it helps them get their businesses through the quieter winter months. But what often happens is they’re asked to move out in the summer to make room for Christmas season tourists.”

She said the other danger is that the dwellings at camping grounds are generally of poor quality and not intended for permanent habitation.

“But there is also a wider-socio-political issue. Many camping ground residents face societal and institutional exclusion, and this limits their participation in society and their access to housing.

“The majority of residents face a lack of housing options. There is a significantly smaller group of retired people who live in well-resourced motorhomes, who have chosen the lifestyle, but have many more resources and choices available to them.

“Housing provision for people from low socio-economic groups and those leaving institutions is inadequate. To fix this problem we need to focus more on identifying the barriers people looking for housing face, such as insufficient and inappropriate housing provision. Greater access to appropriate and stable housing is desperately needed.”

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