Plea for accused state-house tenants

Moana Mackey. Photo / Supplied.

State housing tenants accused of fraud must be allowed to defend themselves before they are evicted, says Labour MP Moana Mackey.

Her comments follow an Official Information Act release to the Press in Christchurch of details of three evictions in Canterbury since June 2009 - all of which were dismissed in court.

Ms Mackey said anyone who defrauded Housing New Zealand must face the consequences.

"No one is defending those tenants who break the rules. However, there has to be the opportunity for a tenant who has been falsely accused to defend themselves against these allegations before they are evicted. It's only fair."