Family of nine gets home in Whakatane

CAMPING OUT: Munia Lawrence, 13, with two of her brothers in the background at their makeshift home.

A Western Bay family of nine has been served with trespass and infringement notices after setting up camp at a Te Puke reserve had nowhere else to live, members say.

The nine, who became homeless after a series of events, decided to set up at Jubilee Park to get the attention of Housing New Zealand and local media.

The Lawrence family parked a caravan and pitched a tent on Thursday and at 9.25am on Friday they were served with a Freedom Camping Offence Infringement Notice with a fine of $200 and a trespass order.

The nine were told to leave the park by 1pm yesterday.

Mother Pania Lawrence said they were evicted from their property in Pukehina last April.

The family had stayed at the Pukehina camping ground for the next six months, then moved on again because they found it too expensive.

After setting up camp at the same Te Puke reserve last year the family obtained temporary accommodation at a backpackers in Te Puke.

Ms Lawrence said she had approached Housing New Zealand last August and was told the organisation would contact her but she did not hear back from it.

"So we came to the park to make a noise and it brought the right attention. You've got to do what you've got to do for your kids. There is no other way."

Mrs Lawrence said she had been told to move on by the council and police.

"I said, 'We are not doing anything wrong and we have nowhere to go. What are we meant to do? Do you think I would come and live in the park if I had any other options'?"

Ms Lawrence said during the Christmas period she had been contacted three times by Housing New Zealand to check if she and her family still needed a home.

"What the hell else do I want?"

Ms Lawrence said when she approached Housing New Zealand with her infringement notices yesterday things started to happen for the family.

Darren Toy, regional manager tenancy services for Housing New Zealand, said the service was able to offer Ms Lawrence a property in Whakatane yesterday, which it had found on Tuesday. Mrs Lawrence had accepted the property straight away.

Miriam Taris, Western Bay of Plenty's Regional Council chief executive, said the council had received several complaints from the public regarding the family camping on the reserve.

"Camping is not permitted on the site where they are staying. The nearby freedom camping area is also for self-contained vehicles only."