Evicted tenants get Xmas reprieve

Three Lower Hutt state house tenants fighting eviction from their homes have won a reprieve over Christmas.

Eviction notices were served on the three women living in properties owned by Housing New Zealand in the Lower Hutt suburb of Pomare earlier this year because of their connection with gang members.

They were refused permission to take their case to the Court of Appeal in November, but were told they could make a special application to to be heard in that court.

A date for a hearing has been set down for February 16 and a stay of proceedings will remain in place until then.

A lawyer for the tenants, Liz Hall, told Radio New Zealand the women were relieved they and their families would get to spend Christmas in their homes.

- NZPA