Rt. Hon Winston Peters
Leader NZ First
September 01 2011

New Zealand First has urged councils to keep regular checks on elderly tenants in council flats following the discovery of the body of an elderly man in a Wellington City Council flat.

The Wellington City Council has launched an investigation into how pensioner Michael Clarke lay dead in his council flat for over a year without his neighbours or the council knowing.

Mr Peters says the incident is shocking and shows that council officers should do regular audits of tenants in council accommodation – especially those tenants who are elderly or have health problems.

“We don’t expect council officers to become caregivers but the case of Mr Clarke is appalling and it is hard to understand how the officers in charge of the flats did not notice that he was dead.”

Mr Peters says it is good if neighbours keep an eye on each other but points out only council officers have the authority to go into a flat to check out the tenant.

“This sad case must not be repeated. Even the animals in the dog pound get checked and fed regularly,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

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