Media Release

3 March 2008

Plenty Waiting-In-Line For State Houses

New Zealand First housing spokesperson Pita Paraone says Housing New Zealand’s increased efforts to stop tenants damaging their state houses will send a message to undeserving tenants that there are plenty of others waiting-in-line.

“Tenants who continue to abuse their state houses should be booted out and their homes given to those more deserving families who are currently languishing on the long waiting list,” said Mr Paraone.

“While New Zealand First commend Housing New Zealand’s hard work in rooting out those responsible for the damage and also to recover their costs, we would like to see the three-strikes-and-you’re-out rule applied more.

“We accept that these tenants are in the minority but it is a reflection of the endemic breakdown of values in New Zealand society today that law-breakers continue to be placed ahead of hard-working, law-abiding Kiwis. New Zealand First will fight for that trend to be reversed,” said Mr Paraone.

“Time and time again, it is the ordinary taxpayer who has to fork out for the maintenance costs of state houses as some tenants continue to disrespect public property. Why should we have to pay for someone to clean up other people’s houses?

“Tenants who occupy state houses should regard this as a privilege and abuse of that privilege should result in their tenancy being terminated.

“I have no doubt that each and every one of those 10,000 families currently on the waiting list for state housing would be more than happy to take their place,” said Mr Paraone.

ENDS

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