Opinion: Gender-specific housing could have opposite of desired effect

A women-only apartment complex in Glenholme seems like a good idea but safety is not gender specific.

Whenever I have rented or bought a house I have rarely asked who the neighbours are and what they are like. I always assume most are like me and keep pretty much to themselves. I am not the pushy, busybody type.

Busybody probably isn't the right word because I once lived in a street where a retired neighbour did a great job of keeping an eye out on the comings and goings in the street during the time his neighbours were away at work.

We all appreciated his concern for our property and his "neighbourhood watch". He would alert us to anything that didn't appear quite right. But my extent of neighbourly activity is to wave as I drive by. So far this has served me well.

So I was quite intrigued to see that there is an apartment complex being advertised in Rotorua that will cater for "women only" renters. No men are allowed to live there.

I see it has been suggested by some people that this is being sexist, discriminating against men and possibly a breach of the Human Rights Act. In my view this is clearly the case.

Yet there is a fair amount of interest and I can see the 10 apartments being fully occupied when redecoration is completed shortly, because to most people personal safety matters. And safe housing, with effective security systems in place, can be a very attractive proposition to women living alone.

Safety in numbers, secure in the knowledge there are no men living in close proximity. The rationale doesn't sit comfortably with me. We know the majority of men make good neighbours. Hey, they're just plain good people. And I feel comfortable, and comforted, knowing they are nearby should assistance be required. I would come to their aid too if necessary.

I have a good friend, a married man, who is often called on to help his neighbours, some of them women living on their own with their children. Nobody would think of looking at him sideways. And I know his support and vigilance is very much appreciated going by the number of six packs he gets at Christmas.

It's true today you never know who is out and about. Those intent on doing harm don't usually reside on our doorstep - or even close by. And I'm not sure what the tenants in the complex might say when they see a man leaving an apartment in the morning after staying over for the night.

Will the tenant then come in for abuse because she risked having a man stay the night?

Will the other tenants get upset and nasty? Would a male guest coming for dinner, never mind staying over, cause alarm and would explanations be required beforehand? The devil will be in the detail. And selecting compatible, likeminded tenants for the complex will require some knowledge of human behaviour.

A complex only for women doesn't mean they will always be safe from harm or unwanted attention. It may be like a red rag to a bull to someone who has devious, wounding intent. Sadly in life there are no guarantees.

An apartment complex just for women sounds a good idea. A place to be safe and secure within your own four walls. I recently moved into an apartment block. There are 12 apartments. Before purchasing I did ask if they were owner-occupied. The majority are. We say good morning or good evening when we pass on the stairway. They seem like nice people to me. I hope I appear the same to them. They had no hand in selecting me as a suitable buyer for my apartment in the block they also own.

I don't want to live in an apartment complex that says "here there are no men, safety is our priority". I live in an apartment block where safety is demonstrated by the respect we show to each other. Men and women alike. Safety is a shared issue. A shared concern. It is not gender specific.

- Merepeka lives in Rotorua. She writes, speaks and broadcasts to thwart the spread of political correctness.