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Protestors occupy state house due for removal

A state house in Glen Innes has been occupied by protestors to demand an end to intimidation and eviction of GI community residents by Housing New Zealand.

July 15th, 2012, 3.45pm
Quality Housing For All

Members of Quality Housing For All (QHFA) have occupied a vacant state house due for removal in protest of the continued assualt waged on the Glen Innes community by Housing New Zealand.

A street party was organized earlier this afternoon by QHFA in solidarity with the Glen Innes community and Tamaki Housing Action Group who are resisting the privitisation of 156 state houses and facing intimidation tactics used by Housing New Zealand. The evictions in Glen Innes are the spearhead for the continued attacks and privatisation and eviction of families in the other 70,000 state homes in Aotearoa.

"Aucklanders will not stand by while the Glen Innes community is intimidated from resisting attacks on residents. Housing is a right, and so is the right to protest the theft of homes." says Maila West, a member of Quality Housing For All.

A long-term resident Sue Henry says, "Pensioners were not given a time limit on their tenancies, and the evictions show that that promise was a blatant lie. Many residents are World War II veterans and their widows who have lived here for more than 40 years, who were promised houses to live in until the end of their lives.

"The elderly and disabled to have a government turn around and shift the goal posts on these people is morally repugnant."

"It is vitally important that we band together to fight the evictions and intimidation in Glen Innes, as G.I. is on the frontlines of asset sales." Kirsty Fong, another member of QHFA says. 73% of New Zealanders oppose the asset sales, and have been enraged to protest about, nationwide.

16 Taniwha Street is currently occupied - the wider community is encouraged to come in support.

ENDS

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