State tenants win last minute reprieve

Three Lower Hutt women fighting eviction from their state homes have won a temporary reprieve after being given 24 hours' notice to leave yesterday.

Robyn Winther, Huia Tamaka and Billy Taylor were served eviction notices from their Housing New Zealand homes in suburban Pomare in March 2009 following of allegations of violence and intimidation through their connection with gang members.

They have so far sought and failed to overturn the evictions through the Tenancy Tribunal, Lower Hutt District Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal accusing HNZ of breaching the Bill of Rights.

Yesterday, HNZ handed them notices to vacate the properties within 24 hours.

But, an injunction by their lawyer later yesterday earned them more time as they wait for a review hearing at the Human Rights Tribunal later this month.

Billy Taylor said last night she was shocked by the 24 hour notice, and wanted to stay in her house.

"It's a community we have all got familiar with and also the facilities around the area," she told Radio New Zealand. "It's like a safe little community," she said.

HNZ chief executive Lesley McTurk said state tenants, like any tenants had an obligation to be good neighbours.

"I have decided to proceed to eviction because there are some actions which are so severe and so disruptive to a community, that their impact cannot be undone. The Pomare area has a history of violence and intimidation."

She said that an incident involving Mongrel Mob gang members allegedly terrorising a woman and her two children in their home which led to the original 90-day eviction notices was not an isolated one.

"However, it is unique in that a complainant was willing to come forward and make a formal statement to police identifying the people involved," he said.

- NZPA