Motorway homes ease hard-up families' lives

Transit New Zealand is giving 27 hard-up Northland families and individuals a hand into their own homes to help ease a housing crisis.

Housing NZ spokesperson Raewyn Tipene said Transit had offered the agency 70 houses earmarked for demolition or removal from the State Highway 20 Mt Roskill motorway extension planned for Auckland.

Fifteen of the most suitable 27 houses were in Whangarei for refurbishment, before being allocated to people who need them.

Up to 1000 Northland families lived in substandard housing.

"Housing is at a crisis in many parts of Northland, with the Far North having the worst housing in New Zealand," Ms Tipene said.

A survey had found up to 300 families urgently needed decent homes.

The first of the Transit houses, with three bedrooms, would go to a family of five in Waiomio. They would be leaving a one-bedroom dwelling with no power or water - their home for years.

Ms Tipene said most of the houses would be given to the families free, but they would have to pay for transport costs and service connections.

"People who are able to borrow between $40,000 to $50,000 may be able to pick up one of these homes for about half the cost of a new home," she said.

Transit New Zealand property and business manager Neill Carr said Transit had gone to tender for removal of the houses, but found little demand.

"Transit is pleased with the outcome of the arrangement with HNZ because no one wants to see houses destroyed if they can be economically relocated."

- NZPA

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