House shock sours dream of a new life

By WAYNE THOMPSON


The wife of a highly qualified Royal Air Force sergeant says a filthy, damp and pest-infested house at Hobsonville Air Base soured dreams of a long career in New Zealand.

Angela Lavin and her husband, Mark, lived most of last year in the Defence Force house in west Auckland.

After 24 years with Britain's RAF, he was recruited for his experience as an air loadmaster on Hercules and passenger jets.

"We got the shock of our lives when we moved in," said Mrs Lavin.

A dead mouse in the stove's warming drawer was the start of a run of disgusting discoveries, which included infestations of mice, lice and fleas.

The house was cold and damp and walls and ceilings were covered in mildew within weeks of occupation.

Blackouts occurred when the wiring could not cope, with three appliances operating at the same time.

The fireplace was blocked and a sewage pipe leaked into the overgrown garden.

Complaints brought a "callous" letter from the base facilities management officer, said Mrs Lavin.

"It stated that the cold and damp is a problem that affects all service houses at Base Auckland and that my husband should 'get over it'."

Mrs Lavin, who is an asthmatic, said her health suffered under such living conditions.

The couple felt under pressure to buy a house in the area.

Mrs Lavin said her husband was sadly disillusioned by the Air Force's unsympathetic treatment and decided to resign.

Appalling service housing contributed towards his decision to quit after 16 months' service instead of serving a potential 10 years.

Mr Lavin is with the New Zealand forces contingent in Iraq which returns on Saturday.

"I'm aware there is an acute shortage of air loadmasters in the Air Force, and yet the Government does nothing to endear recruits to the service," said Mrs Lavin.

Her experience at Hobsonville backed the observations this week of National Party defence spokesman John Carter.

Mr Carter said he had seen, though would not say where, Defence housing that was substandard.

"It's 1950s and 1960s stuff," he said.

"Some of the places have no insulation, an open fire at one end of the house, polished wooden floors and they are cold.

"It is little wonder the forces have difficulty recruiting and retaining staff, considering the conditions of their bases.

"The way we house these people is a disgrace," said Mr Carter.

All 476 houses at Base Auckland are occupied.

Built between the late 1920s and 1970, the houses have three bedrooms.

"Most Defence tenants are happy with and grateful for the housing provided," said Air Force public relations officer Squadron leader Ric Cullinane.

People recruited from overseas were used to a higher standard of accommodation and some had expressed disappointment.

But their complaints were about size of the houses rather than their condition.

Mr Cullinane said Base Auckland houses were safe, serviceable and maintained to an adequate standard.

The maintenance policy was not affected by the Air Force's plan to withdraw from Whenuapai by 2010.

He said no complaints related to value for money. Rents for Base Auckland houses ranged from $80 to $112 a week.