Call for action after toddler's death

The house where Emma-Lite Bourne lived up until her death. Photo / Supplied via Google Maps

The death of an Auckland toddler in a cold, damp Housing New Zealand house has led to renewed calls for the introduction of a Warrant of Fitness for all homes.

Two-year-old Emma-Lita Bourne died on August 8 last year in Starship Hospital, as a result of an acute brain bleed related to pneumonia.

A coroner's report into her death linked it to the state house she lived in with her parents and two siblings.

The home, which had no carpet, was described as cold and did not get much sunshine.

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said the coroner's report was a call to action.

"The young girl's tragic death shows what can happen if we continue to do nothing about the cold, damp and shoddy homes many Kiwis are forced to live in, particularly our state houses."

She said the Government urgently needs to introduce a Warrant of Fitness for all houses - starting with state houses.

Mrs Turei added some of our most vulnerable people are living in houses that are not fit for humans.

"National knows this and yet they've done nothing to improve the quality of state housing on offer."

She said it is time for the Government to release the results of the state housing Warrant of Fitness trial it ran last year.

"The million or so New Zealanders who rent deserve minimum guaranteed warmth and energy-efficiency standards in their homes.

"No New Zealander should be living in a house that makes them sick."