Vol. 77/No. 25      July 1, 2013

BY ANNALUCIA VERMUNT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Despite ongoing protests from tenants in the working-class suburb of Glen Innes, the government is moving ahead with plans to begin evicting people from their state-owned houses in July. The plan is to demolish public housing and rebuild both private and public housing in its place on what is high-value coastal real estate.

These measures coincide with a bill introduced into parliament May 17 that aims to end long-term rental of state housing and privatize Housing New Zealand, a government-owned corporation that provides reduced-rent housing to people who meet the government’s means-testing requirements.

State housing was a social gain won in the late 1930s as a by-product of struggles by working people in the face of depression conditions.

Some 20 people came to a public meeting in Glen Innes May 8 to discuss the tenants’ anti-eviction fight.

“We have not let one home be removed without a fight,” said Terri Campbell, 57.

Marion Peka told the meeting that her elderly neighbor has lived in the area for 60 years and feels Housing New Zealand is just waiting for her to die. “It’s elder abuse,” Peka said.

In September 2011 tenants in 156 state houses received letters saying they would be evicted with no guarantee of return. The evictions were delayed after tenants organized meetings and protests.
 
 
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