Kelly Makiha: Do we have a right to complain about Rotorua and Tauranga emergency housing?

The Ambassador Thermal Motel at Rotorua's Lakefront. Photo / File

OPINION

Are we becoming a bunch of snobs or do residents really have the right to feel uneasy about having homelessness in their suburbs?

Glenholme residents, who have publicly been angry and fearful about the increased number of emergency housing clients living in Fenton St motels, can sympathise with Tauranga residents who have now spoken up about homelessness in their area.

Residents of Tauranga's Avenues say they have become too scared to walk down their streets because of increasing crowds of homeless people.

The 12th Ave residents have signed a petition calling for Tauranga City Council to remove the loiterers.

The petition, signed by 26 people, asks the council to "stop all homeless people from being on our street".

It talks about the mess left behind, the bad language and the intimidation of having large groups of people sprawled across the pathway.

Rotorua residents and businesses in the Whakaue St area are now voicing their concerns about the sale of the lease of the Ambassador Thermal Motel after new owners publicly stated they intended to put emergency housing clients there.

Locals says the area will soon be the much-needed, fresh jewel in Rotorua's tourism crown with millions of dollars being spent on projects including the Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, QE Health development and Rotorua lakefront development.

Those concerned question why authorities will allow emergency housing to operate in one of the few motels in the prime area.

All these concerns are valid. Talk to anyone and the arguments on both sides could win a debate.

As Kiwis we are urged to be kind, to think of the children who aren't able to find a home with their families because of our housing crisis and to welcome out of towners to Rotorua to live in one of our many vacant motels.

But Rotorua and now parts of Tauranga are suffering. Residents who have worked all their lives for their homes deserve to live in peace without people terrorising these neighbourhoods.

And then there's, in my view, the uneasy feeling that a minority of motel owners are reaping huge financial benefits from taxpayers from the crisis.

We are told Government officials are working with sector groups on a solution to the emergency housing dilemma. No one really knows what that is yet but we can only hope there's a silver bullet being designed as we speak.

I for one can't wait for it.