Whānau from the Napier suburb of Maraenui are heading to Wellington for tomorrow’s hikoi to Parliament protesting Housing New Zealand’s policies.
Spokesperson Chantelle Brown says about 70 houses in the suburb are empty and houses are being cleared to make room for private developments while families live in unhealthy and overcrowded conditions.
She says the agency slashed hundreds of people from its waiting list by changing the eligibility criteria.
"Now it’s the high complex needs which is ridiculous because I see a family that can't afford to rent privately, I see them as high complex needs. They're living in cars, tents. I know of a family in Maraenui that lives in a back yard with all their kids in a tent. Now that's ridiculous," she says.
Ms Brown says the gap between the accommodation supplement and private rental rates in the Hawkes Bay puts safe housing beyond the reach of many whānau.
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