Su’a William Sio
MP for Māngere
Pacific Island Affairs spokesman

MEDIA STATEMENT

1 September 2016

Housing crisis forces Pacific families into overcrowded houses

The housing crisis is forcing more Pacific families to live in unhealthy overcrowded conditions and creating third world diseases that are putting babies lives at risk, says Labour’s Pasifika spokesperson Su’a William Sio.

“Living together used to be a temporary measure for many Pacific families looking for jobs and homes.

“But the housing crisis is forcing more Pacific families together, creating overcrowded living conditions. Tragically this is becoming the norm and leading to reports of families suffering from rheumatic fever, skin rashes, colds and pneumonia.

“There are reports that houses are packed with up to 15 people.
“This should not happen in New Zealand, a wealthy developed country where we look after each other. But this Government is still refusing to acknowledge there’s a housing crisis. The housing crisis isn’t just in Auckland anymore. It’s in Tauranga. It’s in Nelson. It is spreading.

“Right now 42,000 children are hospitalised each year because of cold, mouldy and damp homes, and tragically 15 of them will die.

“The Labour Party is committed to better solutions for the housing crisis. We will build 100,000 warm, dry and affordable homes through Kiwibuild and improve the quality of rental homes through Andrew Little’s Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill,” says Su’a William Sio.

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