Students Rally Against Housing Crisis at Auckland Uni

Students at the University of Auckland are holding a 'Rally Against Rent' in the Quad at 1pm today.

The event has been organised by a group called 'Student Housing Action Group' in response to the national housing crisis.

Spokesperson Mikaela Hunt said: "We have been spurred into action by the completely unacceptable state of housing in Auckland and across the country in general."

"Not only has the government chosen to remain on the side of property developers, banks and landlords but they have actively closed down previously existing channels to alleviate the human suffering caused by a capitalist market in housing, such as accessible state housing."

"We want to see interventions in the private market and policies including more state housing, rent controls, substantial capital gains taxes, squatters rights and a warrant of fitness for housing."

"There are thousands of empty homes in this city which sit vacant while accruing massive profits for their owners. In a situation in which homelessness is rapidly increasing, this is nothing less than a crime against society."

"While some institutions and individuals play the housing market like a game of monopoly, collecting free money from doing nothing, others are living out of cars, garages or on the streets."

"We vehemently reject the government position that more supply is the answer. Nick Smith clearly doesn't understand economics. "

"No amount of new supply will solve the housing crisis, as long as it follows the logic of the private market and landlords have the power to charge monopoly rents."

"We are protesting today because we have had enough of being told that the market is able to solve social problems which are being caused by the market in the first place."

Student Housing Action Group intent to continue their campaign until there a universal right to quality, affordable housing across the country.

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