17 sept. 1997 - Auckland's 25,300 state houses rent up 45% in one year

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State housing in Auckland is too expensive for needy families, Labour housing spokesman Graham Kelly said today.

Figures released by Mr Kelly today show that more than two thirds of Auckland's 25,300 state houses cost more than $200 a week to rent at August 16, up from 46 percent at November 1996, and 25 percent at November 1995.

He said the figures showed state houses were no longer geared towards providing affordable housing to New Zealanders.

"Two years ago, a clear majority of state houses were relatively cheap to rent, now it is only a small minority," he said in a statement today.

"Affordable rental accommodation is swiftly becoming a distant memory for most low income families. As state house rents are being hiked up, low income families are being forced out."

Many rural Maori now living in Northland had left Auckland when they could no longer afford the rent, while some of those remaining were now living in terrible conditions, Mr Kelly claimed.

"State housing should be providing affordable, quality housing to New Zealanders. Instead it is a cash cow, producing profits and dividends for this Government out of the pockets of the poorest New Zealanders."

Source: STATE HOUSING TOO EXPENSIVE IN AUCKLAND, SAYS KELLY.
216 words
7 September 1997
New Zealand Press Association

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