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September 06, 2022
Waititi wants inquiry on Rotorua homeless dump
Adam Gifford
Posted On September 6, 2022
Download AudioWaiariki MP Rawiri Waititi is calling for an independent inquiry into Rotorua’s emergency housing.
The Maori Party co-leader says allegations on TVNZ’s Sunday programme square with his own observations.
He says while homelessness is a problem throughout the country, it’s a particular challenge in Rotorua, where much of the city’s motel accommodation has been pressed into service over the past couple of years.
He says government agencies have ignored the Maori dimension of the homelessness crisis.
“If Maori are 50 percent of the social housing list we should have 50 percent of the stock. If we have 200,000 empty houses here in Aotearoa here should be an empty house tax. There should be no empty houses. They should be used for the greater good of Aotearoa. That would house all of out peoplle at this particular time who are struggling to put a roof over their heads,” Mr Waititi says.
He says the emergency housing programme was put in place without enough planning or wraparound support, resulting in inappropriate placements and chaotic and dangerous living conditions for many whanau.
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