Mums take charge of families' lives, health

Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty (centre) chats with Delysse Beazley (left) and Devi Hill about housing standards. Photo / John Stone

Members of Whangarei's Otangarei community say the case of an Auckland toddler whose substandard Housing New Zealand home contributed to her death from pneumonia say it could easily happen in Northland - a call backed up by the Green Party.

Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty was in Whangarei on Friday as part of the Green's A Fair Share tour, meeting groups around the country to find out their biggest concerns regarding inequality in their areas.

Ms Delahunty visited the Tai Tokerau Emergency Housing Trust in Whangarei before meeting a group of Otangarei women at the community's marae.

Wahine Toa (Strong Women) was set up several months ago by Otangarei mothers who wanted to ensure their children were mentored and knew how to achieve their goals.

Member Devi Hill said it was about empowering their children to take responsibility for their own lives.

Examples of that included students at Te Kura o Otangarei deciding to start their own dance group, and organising a bake sale themselves to raise money for the group's T-shirts.

Ms Delahunty was impressed with the women's dedication and agreed with them when they told her inadequate housing and low incomes were holding them and their children back.

"They are doing a great job to rebuild their community, but they need the tools to be able to do that," Ms Delahunty said.

"The leadership has come from these mothers, but the Government has abandoned them."

When asked if the situation with Auckland toddler Emma-Lita Bourne, whose sub-standard Housing New Zealand home contributed to her death from pneumonia, could happen here, both Ms Delahunty and the Wahine Toa members responded with a resounding "yes".

"There's no question. Look around, there's heaps of state houses here," Wahine Toa member Delysse Beazley said.

Housing New Zealand spokeswoman Bryony Hilless said as a social landlord it provided a fit-for-purpose home for those in need, for the duration of that need.

"The average age of our homes is 43 years and, as such, the portfolio includes homes that are old, cold and difficult to maintain. Heading into winter, it's important that if any tenant has repair or maintenance issues, they let us know."