Housing crisis rally sparks united support

A former state housing site in Napier, soon after it was emptied when the demolition and removal crews moved in two years ago. Photo / File

Several election candidates will be speaking at a housing crisis rally in Napier next weekend, which an organiser says is already highlighting the widespread belief that urgency is needed to tackle the problem.

The rally will be held on Sunday at the Napier Soundshell, starting at 2pm, and will feature a range of speakers including Labour Party Ikaroa Rawhiti electorate MP Meka Whaitiri, Maori Party co-leader and List MP Marama Fox, and Green Party candidate Damon Rusden, while organisers are awaiting replies from other parties.

They have, however, been told by the organisers - the newly-formed Community Housing Action Team (Chat) to keep it tight, limited to three minutes each in a programme of talk and entertainment.

Other speakers will include those Chat members Michelle Pyke says are the "VIP list" - people who are at the coalface and who are prepared to speak about their plight and fights, including a representative of "rough sleepers" and a mother forced out of rental accommodation by a property sale, highlighting two aspects of the crisis.

Chat has formed over the last month, drawing people from diverse groups and organisations which have a common interest in the housing crisis.

Ms Pyke said it was formed to try to force urgent remedies to the crisis. It has a mission statement saying its aims are to raise awareness of the extent and effects of the housing crisis, to build wide support for positive solutions to fix the housing crisis, and to enrol and engage voters in order to achieve political action.

Housing and homelessness have been pushed to the front of the election agenda over the last six years since the start of Housing New Zealand's programme removing or demolishing state housing throughout the country.

It included dozens of sites in the Maraenui area in Napier, still empty with little sign of a development plan amid calls for social housing projects to help alleviate the homelessness becoming a significant issue heading towards the General Election on September 23.

Ms Pyke hopes the calling of the rally, which includes distribution of about 8000 flyers in Napier and Hastings, has already achieved something. On one hand she sees different groups working together, and on another Housing New Zealand has said it wants to meet with representatives of the group this week.

"What that will bring I don't know," she said. "But maybe it's a start."