Grey's Ave tenants live in fear of gangs

Security has been stepped up at Auckland's historic Greys Ave state housing block after residents complained about being harassed by gang members in the building.

Housing New Zealand is installing new security doors and outside lighting at the block at 139 Greys Ave near Aotea Sq, has closed off access to the roof between 7 pm and 6 am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and has brought in security guards on those nights.

The corporation's Auckland manager, Graham Bodman, said notices had been issued to two tenants to comply with conditions of the Residential Tenancies Act requiring them not to interfere with the "reasonable peace, comfort or privacy" of neighbouring tenants. There had also been problems with a third tenant.

Police had made four arrests at the block in the past two months.

A long-term tenant, who declined to be named because of fear of intimidation, said there had been a growing gang presence in the past year.

She first complained to Housing NZ last December, but said no action was taken until she went to Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard, who met tenants and Mr Bodman at the block on August 12.

Another resident, who has lived in the block for 12 years, said windows had been broken and there was harassment and violence "almost on a daily basis".

"It used to be a very settled block and worked very well," he said. "It's just got out of hand."

Mr Bodman said the corporation would not accept a tenant who was a known gang member, but had a responsibility to house the homeless.

"I have looked into the three cases. In the most recent case, there was a significant amount of supporting information from other professionals that strongly advocated for the person to be allocated housing"

"One of them is a young chap who was homeless and very ill. We had a supporting letter from a doctor. I think he has a caregiver as well, that was all part of the deal. It transpired that there were problems with the tenancy and perhaps with the caregiver. My experience is it's not necessarily the tenants who are the problems, we sometimes have people who are taken advantage of by their associates."

He said the corporation was preparing cases to take to the Tenancy Tribunal to terminate two tenancies.

The Greys Ave block is registered by the Historic Places Trust as a category two historic place. There are 87 flats in the main block and about 50 in lower-rise blocks down the street.