Love finds a way after couple were banned from council house

Michael Gibson, and his fiancee Sharon Hira can look forward to a life together after the Horowhenua District Council had a change of heart. Photo/Sadie Beckham

Wedding bells are now on the horizon for a Levin couple, whose nuptials were on hold after the local council said they couldn't live together in the groom-to-be's pensioner unit.

A change of heart by Horowhenua District Council means Michael Gibson, and his fiancee Sharon Hira will now be allowed to share the one-bedroom council-owned unit Mr Gibson already lives in.

Ms Hira is two years too young to qualify for the housing criteria, despite living on an invalid's benefit.

But after a story about the pair's plight attracted national media attention last week, council chief executive David Clapperton met with the couple to advise them a "one-off" exception could be made.

Mr Clapperton said Ms Hira had now been added to Mr Gibson's tenancy agreement.
"We've made an exception in these circumstances," Mr Clapperton said.

"I think we have a good understanding."

Mr Gibson said the couple were "very, very happy" the council had decided to do the right thing.

"No-one wants to go through that," he said.

"I'm just glad it's worked out as it should have done right from the start. Sanity has prevailed."

Sharon Hira and Michael Gibson were earlier told he would be evicted if she moved in.

The couple were now planning their wedding, which they hoped could be held at Foxton Beach in late July or early August.

"As soon as we can," Mr Gibson said. "Why muck around?"

He said the couple were pleased they could now fully live their life together.

"We do everything legally, and we do everything properly," he said. "That's why we informed [the council] in the first place."

Ms Hira said she felt happy, and relieved her feelings of discrimination had lifted.

She had already moved in to the unit, and was enjoying making a home with Mr Gibson.

The pensioner houses are currently owned and managed by HDC, but are under a conditional offer of sale to the Sisters of Compassion - a Catholic charity operating community housing in Upper Hutt.

Last week, Sisters of Compassion manager Gerard McGreevy said his organisation could not see a problem with allowing a couple to live together if the same situation had arisen in the Hutt Valley units.

Mr Gibson said his faith in the council and Mr Clapperton had been restored.

"Maybe we'll even invite him to the wedding."