Auckland managers of Housing New Zealand will meet with Labour’s housing spokesperson Graham Kelly after reports of a likely link between overcrowded conditions and a lowering health status.

Mr Kelly is seeking a meeting with Housing New Zealand to get assurances that the homes of Glen Innes tenants, and those of other suburbs in south Auckland will be brought up to an acceptable standard. He wants this “urgently addressed”.

In recent years, Mr Kelly says, New Zealand has become a less healthy nation with increases in hospital admission rates with children suffering diseases associated with overcrowding and dampness, including Meningococcal disease and respiratory infections.

“The meningitis epidemic is now being described as a public health emergency,” Mr Kelly says. "Housing New Zealand's maintenance programme is completely inadequate and the Glen Innes study shows that New Zealand families are being forced to endure Third World conditions.

"There has been report after report linking poor housing and overcrowding with serious health problems. This evidence has been ignored by a succession of housing ministers,” Mr Kelly says.

For more, refer to Scoop investigations at these links:
Auckland Meningitis Worst in Developed World http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK9907/S00113.htm

Auckland Public Health Warning on Meningitis http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK9907/S00114.htm

"Fixing the sorry state of our state houses has to be a priority but the Government is more interested in maximising the profits it can make off low-income people. The Housing Minister won't lift a finger, so I have sought an urgent meeting with Housing New Zealand officials in Auckland," Graham Kelly said.

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