17 June 2013
Press Release: Sue Henry Housing Lobby Spokesperson:
"Eviction notices for elderly State tenants are effectively death sentences."
"In response to this NZ Herald on Sunday article dated 16 June 2013, entitled "The $340-a-week houses with
million-dollar views" - these State houses were constructed for 2000 pounds each, are freehold and have been paid for by
State tenants many times over," says Housing Lobby Spokesperson Sue Henry.
"The ironic contradiction here is that the day before this story went to print it was'World Elder Abuse Awareness Day'. "
Elder abuse and neglect needs to stop and it is up to all of us to work together to prevent it, says Senior Citizens
Minister Jo Goodhew.
Saturday 15 June 2013 marks the eighth World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
“World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is about acknowledging older people as integral to strong families, and affirming that
there is no place for elder abuse,” says Mrs Goodhew.
“The prevention of elder abuse and neglect is one of my key priorities and something I personally feel very strongly
about.”
Elder abuse can take many forms, and includes behaviours or lack of action which causes physical, psychological, sexual
or financial harm or distress to an older person.
“Older people are entitled to make their own decisions, feel safe and live free of fear. They have the right to dignity
and care in a supportive environment,” Mrs Goodhew says. ...........
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"Elder abuse is also a criminal offence in this country," continued Sue Henry.
"It's disgusting how this National/ACT Government has sanctioned greedy property developers to abuse the vulnerable,
elderly folk who have worked hard, law-abiding lives, paid for and built for a significant amount of amenities in the
Glen Innes area which the property developers are now endeavouring to ransack,"
"These elderly State tenants are not being given eviction notices - they're being effectively given death sentences."
"Is this the thanks that Returned Servicemen, and widows of those deceased, particularly those allocated permanent State
homes in the Glen Innes area, are getting? "
"The Housing Lobby are calling for, in the first instance, tenure protection to be reinstated forthwith .for these
elderly State tenants.
We also want their exemption from intimidating, stressful reviews," she concluded.
Sue Henry
Spokesperson
Housing Lobby
ENDS