September 27, 2018
Tamihere and Goff clash over council housing policy
Whānau Waipareira is challenging Auckland Council to rein in its Pānuku property arm.
Chief executive John Tamihere told Auckland Council’s governing body this morning Panuku’s social housing policy was discriminatory and in breach of the Human Rights Act.
He says it excludes the elderly on fixed incomes, the unemployed, beneficiaries and Aucklanders earning under $80,000 from buying or owning council land.
Waipareira has been fighting with the council controlled organisation over the amount of social housing it can include in a Papatoetoe development.
He was told by Mayor Phil Goff to withdraw an allegation of corruption against Pānuku, but refused.
He said Pānuku demanded Waipareira sign a contract even though the west Auckland urban Māori trust had a legal opinion it was illegal, and it refused Waipareria’s offer to seek a declaratory judgment from the court.
Mr Tamihere says Pānuku’s policy conflicts with the government’s aim to increase funding and support for social housing.
He gave the council eight weeks to amend its social housing policy or Waipareira would take it to court.
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