Back Off, Banks

The Green Party is demanding Auckland Mayor, John Banks guarantee the security of the council's pensioner housing scheme.

The council has accepted a report which recommends reviewing its provision of pensioner housing as part of a cost-cutting exercise, bringing with it the threat of privatisation for the city's 1700 pensioner units.

"We all remember what happened when Housing New Zealand rentals were corporatised and many were sold off," says Greens Housing Spokesperson, Sue Bradford. "And if that's what Mr Banks plans for Auckland, it will be a disaster."

"Even Mr Banks should have learned from the lessons of the last 10 years," she says.

Sue Bradford says that the pensioner units are the last remnant of a once-proud council housing scheme.

"I call on Mr Banks and all council members to not only reaffirm their commitment to the current level of pensioner housing, but to accept their responsibility to rebuild rather than destroy what's left of council housing in Auckland."

ENDS

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