Demolishing State Homes: A Solution to Resistance

On Tuesday morning another state house in Glen Innes was demolished, one of many that have been demolished after their removal was met with resistance from the community.

State houses have been removed from Glen Innes in preparation for a redevelopment that will replace the state housing stock with mixed tenure housing, the majority of which will be private housing.

The house that was demolished was the family home of community activist Makelesi Ngata who had lived in her home for 25 years. Last month protestors occupied the trucks that were set to remove the home and were successful in stopping its removal.

Tāmaki Housing Group believe that these homes are being demolished because there has been resistance in the community. It is the land, not the houses that is profitable, however it is the houses that hold history and memories for many of the families in the community.

The Glen Innes experiment is part of the state housing asset sale that will see many houses sold off on valuable land such as Tāmaki and other houses transferred to social housing providers.

The government stated that they want to see the right families in the right size home, yet they are demolishing four bedroom homes in good condition in Glen Innes.

The Government's proposed solution to the housing crisis in Auckland is to subsidise the building of 'affordable housing', however they are demoliting the state housing stock and building $800,000 homes which will contribute to unaffordability.

Protestors in the community say that this is an asset sale and will continue to resist. A nationwide meeting of all those affected by the social housing reforms is set to be held on Saturday February 21st 2015, register at statehousinghui@gmail.com.

ENDS

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