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Tu Tangata Maraenui supports rally

A group of concerned Maraenui residents, calling themselves Tu Tangata Maraenui, is marching on Saturday, June 30 to support the rally in Napier against asset sales. They want to draw attention to the sell-off of State Houses and the possible closure of the pharmacy in their suburb. The march starts at 12 noon in Memorial Square, and proceeds to the Marine parade, where speakers will address the crowd.

Resident Christine Harrison said that Housing New Zealand has emptied over 50 dwellings in Maraenui, claiming that this is because people don't want to live in Maraenui, when in reality people have been pushed out because Housing New Zealand has changed their policy so that many people needing affordable housing are no longer eligible.

"This means many low-income families are in private rentals costing two or three times the rent paid in HNZ homes, or they are crammed into houses that they share with one or two other families because that's all they can afford."

As well, the Housing New Zealand offices are all closed down, and people can only access services through an 0800 number. This has caused problems of long delays and difficulties for the people, especially those with "high and complex needs" whom Housing New Zealand is now focusing on. "People often have difficulty expressing themselves over the phone, or English is their second language, so they may miss out on housing because of this."

"Our community would love to see some of the old houses done up and made more livable and appropriate for today's families," she said. "But from what we understand, they are going to be bowled over and sold to developers who will expect market rentals."

"Why isn't Housing New Zealand consulting with the people in Maraenui? All around us are empty houses, creating safety problems and insecurity amongst our people. We don't know what their plans are or what they are doing to the empty properties.

Many tenants don't even know if they can plant their gardens, or if they are going to be moved out."

The residents are also very concerned about the possibility that the Maraenui Pharmacy at the shopping centre may close because of changes in their contract with the DHB. Reduction in funding could mean that the pharmacy will no longer be financially viable and shut down. This provides an essential service for locals who go to the Medical Centre, and cannot afford to go into town for their prescriptions.

"Maraenui is home, kainga to many of us and has a whakapapa like no other part of Napier," Christine said. "We are feeling like it is being dismantled and torn apart by these changes that we have no control over. So we have two petitions, one for Housing New Zealand and the other for the Minister of Health and the DHB, and as well, we are joining the protest march in town on the 30th.

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