You home wreckers!

SHE'S BEEN IN THIS HOUSE FOR 40 YEARS AND WANTS TO DIE HERE. NOW SHE MAY BE FORCED OUT
She's had it tough, Josephine Freemantle. But the Tamaki Housing New Zealand tenant has never let anyone walk over her. Two years ago, she dug in her heels and refused to sign the consent to subdivide her property. Even with the threat of an eviction notice, she stuck to her guns. Local MP Allan Peachey sat in her lounge and told her not to sign anything. Since then, she and the other Cranbrook Pl residents have heard nothing. But the most recent housing announcement has brought back the taste of fear, especially as Mr Peachey has changed his tune. Housing Minister Maryan Street this year announced plans to reduce the ratio of state housing in Tamaki from 55 per cent to 39 per cent by providing affordable homes for first home buyers. Mr Peachey told The Aucklander that while he is "totally irreconcilably, uncompromisedly, irrevocably" opposed to subdividing land for more state homes, he supports the idea of helping young families achieve their dream of owning their first home. He says studies show that areas with more than 20 per cent state housing have problems. A lot of land in Tamaki is underused and owned by Housing New Zealand, he says. "The older generation needs to be fair and understand that their children and grandchildren's generation are being shut out of rentals, state housing and buying homes. "In other parts of the city, owners can no longer afford to sit on quarter acre sections." Some homes are very old and rundown and will be bowled, he says. Housing NZ will be working closely with tenants who have to move. Mrs Freemantle signed her tenancy agreement with Housing NZ in 1968. She thinks it's unfair to be kicked out of her home at the age of 76. "I live in a state house out of necessity, not desire," she says. But she keeps it in immaculate condition. It's the home she reared her three daughters in. Her neighbour, Jocelyn Taylor, raised 10 children in hers. They both pay their rent on time, every time. Their husbands were carried out of the street in pine boxes. "And that's the way we'll go, too," they say. "We've lived here for a collective 80 years. All we ask is they do not make us move now," says Mrs Taylor. Tamaki state house tenant, and spokesperson for the housing lobby, Sue Henry urges returned servicemen, widows and pensioners not to sign any forms developers may present to them. "Powerful people are making decisions on vulnerable people's land," she says. Tamaki Community Board chairwoman Kate Sutton says the Tamaki Transformation Project has a long way to go. The project does need to go through a public consultation in which all members of the community will get to have their say about the proposals. "The community board sees possibilities for Tamaki from the proposed government investment and we are pleased that government agencies are working together to address some of the issues in the area," says Mrs Sutton.
By Jacqueline Smith