Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

We should not have homelessness in a country with empty home

We should not have homelessness in a country with empty homes

There is a direct link between the increase in homelessness and the government’s neoliberal housing agenda.

There are empty state houses all over Aotearoa which are waiting to be demolished, removed or sold to private developers who can make a profit from the land they sit on. All the while, 1 in 120 New Zealanders are homeless and unable to get access to suitable affordable accommodation to meet their needs.

Hundreds of state housing tenants have been evicted with 90 day notices since the government begun the social housing reforms in 2013 and many had been evicted prior to this under redevelopment plans or Housing New Zealand’s anti-social policy.

Reviewable Tenancies means tenants are forced into the private market, and consequently forced from their communities in search of affordable accommodation.

Many tenants will find it difficult to find accommodation in the private market due to discrimination from landlords.

The government frame the housing crisis as one of supply, however their solutions have been to privatise state housing and subsidise developers to build private ‘affordable’ accommodation for the middle-class. This is not building supply for those in the most need.

The Tāmaki Housing Group have counted over 50 empty state homes in Glen Innes alone, while recent news stories have revealed the significant amount of empty homes across the country.

All people deserve shelter and deserve to stay in the communities that they collectively created. There is no need for homelessness in a country with empty homes.

The government's urban renewal strategy coupled with the transfer of state housing to private providers will increase the rates of displacement and insecurity.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.