March 20, 2024
Responsible tenants only for Kāinga Ora
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says if bad tenants don’t change their behaviour, his Government will give someone else a shot at a state home.
Kāinga Ora has been told to drop its sustaining tenancies policy which made eviction a last resort, and at the same time the Government has said it’s putting families with children living in emergency housing up the list for a state house placement.
Mr Luxon says people have a right to support, but they also have a responsibily not to abuse it.
He’s heard from Kāinga Ora tenants about the abuse they have received from neighbours.
“They showed me photos and videos of their neighbours who had grabbed their washing, rubbed it in the dirt, chucked it on their balcony, and also abusing the wife and the kids as they walk up the driveway each day to go to school to the point the kids are fearful of going to school. Well sorry, that stops. We’re not interested in that behavour any more. You’re a New Zealander, you look after yourself, you make sure you meet the responsibilities to your fellow New Zealanders and the country. That’s the deal in New Zealand, rights and responsibilities. You can’t just take the rights and not have the responsibilities,” Mr Luxon says.