Editorial: More action less talk

Linda Hall, Assistant Editor, Hawke's Bay Today.

At public rally held yesterday at the Sound Shell in Napier focusing on the region's housing issues, Hastings councillor Henare O'Keefe challenged Hawke's Bay's political leaders to put aside their differences and come together.

That's exactly what needs to happen. It doesn't matter who the winners and losers are in the September election, our politicians need to address the growing amount of people living on the streets.

The newly-formed Community Housing Action Team (CHAT) which organised the rally is a good start - however its acronym is probably not the best.

We need action now - no more chat.

Build some houses, fix the state houses that have been sitting empty for months on end.

There may have been 150 or so people at the rally, most of them probably with homes to go to, however you can be sure there are plenty more out there too ashamed to come forward.

People that through no fault of their own simply can't afford to rent let alone buy a home for their family.

And because the housing market is so hot in Hawke's Bay at the moment it appears landlords are selling and who can blame them for wanting to make a profit - that's life.
However, the result is fewer decent houses to rent.

I've heard from a couple of people looking for accommodation that it's so tough to find anything decent at an affordable price.

This issue is about the people not about gaining votes - we need action now.