Ladder removal gets tenants fired up and endangers lives

It is inexcusable that Housing New Zealand is endangering lives by removing emergency escape ladders from Dunedin homes, Labour’s Dunedin North MP David Clark says.

“Families I have spoken to are appalled. These escape routes have been in place since time immemorial; they provide an easy exit for anyone caught upstairs during a fire.

“HNZ says the ladders won’t be replaced because newly installed smoke alarms preclude the need for them.

“If it wasn’t such a serious matter it would be laughable. Smoke alarms might alert someone to a fire but you cannot climb down a smoke alarm to safety.

“All removing these structures has done is remove one of the options tenants have to save themselves in a fire.

“Housing New Zealand says these ladders are a security risk and encourage burglary but in answers to official parliamentary questions the department admitted such security risks aren’t even important enough to record.

“Pulling ladders from under tenants like this is just the latest in a long list of missteps Housing Minister Nick Smith has made.

“The New Zealand Fire Service recommends retaining ladders as they provide an additional means of escape. Nick Smith is arrogant if he thinks he knows better than the Fire Service, and out of touch if he thinks Kiwi families don't care about fire safety at home”, David Clark says.

ENDS

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