End in sight for Glen Innes beneficiary's housing battle

Niki Rauti (62) has gained hundreds of supporters during her spat with the Tamaki Redevelopment Company, which want to replace the Glen Innes house as part of a development of 7500 new homes.

After months of battling to stay in her state house it looks like Niki Rauti is poised to take up an offer of a new house, mere metres away.

After a High Court bid to keep her home of more than two decades failed, Niki Rauti, 62, was served an eviction notice and given till 10am today to move out.

Supporters pledged a peaceful resistance against the impeding eviction with a staged campout at her house, but a last minute conversation between Rauti and Tamaki Redevelopment Company has hinted at reconciliation.

TRC general housing manager Neil Porteous said talks were under way with Rauti and he hoped to reach a resolution soon.

Late last night on Rauti's Facebook support page gratitude was expressed to all those who had supported the sickness beneficiary, in court and at her home over the past few months.

"Niki is In discussion with TRL to move to another house - she will not be evicted tomorrow- we would like to deeply and unreservedly thank each of you for all your different ways of supporting this fight over the last 12 months," she said. "There is currently no need for Occupation - however come and join us tonight for some Kai."

TRC's earlier offers of a new home had been rejected by Rauti, who wanted to stay in the house that she'd been given the lease for in 1999 and where her mother had lived since the 1980s.

She had said alternative homes were not suitable for her needs as they were too damp, or the two-storeyed homes were too difficult for her to access.

Rauti's house was one of 2500 state houses pinpointed for demolition to make way for 7500 new homes within 10 to 15 years.

The regeneration programme would see a net addition of 5000 "affordable" and market-priced homes, while the number of social houses would stand at 2800.

Rauti and her supporters opposed the plans which they saw as a mass sell-off of state housing.