Protest group halts removal of state-owned house

Six activists mounted and locked themselves on to the two trucks carrying the house, preventing them from leaving the site.

A protest group halted the removal of a state-owned house in suburban Auckland today in continuation of housing demonstrations in the area.

The Tamaki Housing Group took action against the removal of the house in the early hours of the morning, activist spokeswoman Ella Grace McPherson-Newton said.

Six activists mounted and locked themselves on to the two trucks carrying the house, preventing them from leaving the site.

One protester was internet-Mana's Makelesi Ngata whose family had lived in the house for 25 years before their eviction earlier in the year, Ms McPherson-Newton said.

"After a stand off with the police, the decision was made to postpone the removal of the house.

"The removals are part of a large-scale gentrification of the area, with a planned 156 evictions."

The suburb gained nationwide attention when Hone Harawira joined the protesters in October 2012.

The Mana Party leader was arrested after he locked himself in his car and turned his music up loud, blocking a Housing New Zealand-contracted truck and trailer unit from leaving one of the homes.

After refusing to move several times, police eventually smashed one of his car windows and arrested him.

Mr Harawira was charged with not complying with a police instruction and was ordered to pay $500 and $132 in court costs.

A large number of the houses in Glen Innes remained unoccupied, while a substantial remainder were being demolished on-site as part of the redevelopment, Ms McPherson-Newton said.

"At least 39 of the new houses built are intended to be privately sold at 'affordable' market rates of about $800,000.

"Approximately 78 new houses are planned as part of the government's policy change from state housing to social housing, which will see government responsibility offset to charities and other private sector organisations."

The activists said they would continue to fight as long as people were pushed out of their community and good homes were being destroyed.

Police were unavailable for comment.

- additional reporting New Zealand Herald.