11. TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) Link to this
to the Minister of Housing
What reports has he received about addressing serious antisocial behaviour by tenants living in Housing New Zealand Corporation properties?
Hon PHIL HEATLEY (Minister of Housing) Link to this
I have received notice that the Housing New Zealand Corporation has served 90-day notices on five of its tenants in response to ongoing and serious incidents in Farmer Crescent. The Government supports the corporation getting serious about antisocial, violent, and intimidating behaviour. We do not tolerate houses being used for unlawful purposes. The previous Government turned a blind eye to gangs in State houses. The gangs have set up shop, and we are doing something about it.
The Housing New Zealand Corporation will still use the Tenancy Tribunal for the vast majority of tenancy issues, but where there are ongoing serious issues of a violent and intimidatory nature—and there is a small number of these—the local community deserves a rapid and definitive outcome. We cannot expect witnesses to give testimony at the Tenancy Tribunal in front of people they have been severely intimated by and often live next door to. We are spending a fortune on upgrading a dilapidated State housing stock, which the Labour Government oversaw, and we are not going to have those doors kicked in and neighbours intimidated.
Jo GoodhewThe decision to issue a 90-day notice will not be taken lightly by the Housing New Zealand Corporation. It has assured me that it will be a last option. The 90-day notices will be processed centrally, and the decision to issue one is made at a high level of the organisation.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
Tell us about the nine kids and where they’re going to live. Where are the children going to live, Phil?
Trevor Mallard, who also shows intimidating and violent behaviour, might like to take note that 90-day notices will not be used inappropriately. I wish the Speaker would use one on him.
Mr SPEAKER