3 December 2018
Compensation before Christmas welcome, but Housing NZ must ensure victims have a place to call home
The Green Party has welcomed victims of the meth testing debacle receiving compensation before Christmas, but is calling
on Housing NZ to ensure that anyone displaced from the debacle is provided with a safe place to call home.
“The approach by Housing New Zealand, directed by National, resulted in 800 vulnerable tenants being pushed out of their
home and approximately $6.8 million charged for testing and clean up”, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today.
“The baseless hysteria and mismanagement by National resulted in hurt and pain for vulnerable New Zealanders, including
the elderly, who just needed a home. Many lost their homes and their possessions.
“We have no idea how many are now homeless as a result of this cruel policy.
“The compensation averaging around $8000 is welcome, and will go some way to helping vulnerable New Zealanders rebuild
their life.
“In saying this, we have heard from advocacy groups that many of those affected from the regime are now on the streets
or living out of their cars.
“Housing NZ is currently seeking out those affected by the regime to compensate them, in that process they should also
be checking if they have a safe place to live and if not, offering that.
“To offer someone made homeless by the previous Government compensation but not a roof over their head means the
compensation will provide some reprieve but no certainty of a safe home environment. We must make sure that is
achieved”.
ends