Moana
Mackey
Housing Spokesperson

11 August 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT
Housing New Zealand decision petty and disappointing

Housing New Zealand Gisborne’s decision to no longer distribute council rubbish stickers to their tenants is petty and disappointing says Labour Housing spokesperson and Gisborne based MP Moana Mackey

Rubbish stickers for all Housing New Zealand properties are delivered to the local neighbourhood unit office each quarter. When Council tried to deliver the stickers this month Housing New Zealand refused to accept them saying that they are ‘focusing on the tenancy and asset management aspects of their business’.

“I have always been impressed with the common sense approach our local HNZ neighbourhood unit has taken despite the retrograde changes happening at the national level,” Moana Mackey said.

“I guess it was only a matter of time before Phil Heatley’s changes reached Tairawhiti, but it is still disappointing nonetheless.

“Housing New Zealand is the ratepayer and the tenants pay for the rubbish collection service through their rent. Every other landlord in Gisborne is expected to forward the stickers to their tenants, including the council themselves, and Housing New Zealand is no different.

“What happens if a tenant cannot dispose of their rubbish and it starts to pile up, will they then be evicted for not looking after the property? The end costs to Housing New Zealand, and the taxpayer, could be far worse than if they just kept doing what they’ve always done and delivered the stickers.

“What I would like to know is what has changed? The existing arrangement has never been a problem before so who issued the instruction that our local office needed to change their practice?

“Since the election the Minister has made it clear that Housing New Zealand is no longer a social housing provider, but a business and “just like any other landlord”. Apparently they’re not even that anymore,” Moana Mackey said.

ENDS

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