Homelessness is the issue candidates will tackle this week. Photo/File
We asked Rotorua candidates for the general election what they would do to address the homeless problem in the city.
Richard Gillies, Rotorua candidate, Green Party
Homelessness in Rotorua is the visible and tragic consequence of extreme poverty and the under-resourcing of mental health services and the network of community service providers, both products of nine years of National government. Under a Green government, Housing NZ would retain its Crown dividend and tax obligations, freeing up about $207 million for the emergency build of around 450 new state houses around New Zealand. We would reinstate the Mental Health Commission, hold a full inquiry into services, and then fund the identified solutions. Homelessness is solvable - it just needs a government to act swiftly, with compassion and intent.
Give an ongoing commitment to social housing in partnership with community organisations. We have 647 social houses in Rotorua. Recently the Bill English government announced a further 117 will be added to meet population growth over the next three years. 37 will be transitional and 80 social houses. The roll out has begun. We're working closely with the Salvation Army and others to help those in need more quickly. But we need more land. I've proposed a Special Housing Accord between the RLC and Government. It'll take pressure off the housing and rental market, speed up consents, free up sections and see more houses, including social, built quickly.
Ben Sandford, Rotorua candidate, Labour
Labour believes that everyone has the right to a home and that all rental homes should be warm, dry, and healthy. We will build houses, we will build affordable homes and we will build state houses. It is outrageous that we have a homelessness problem in New Zealand and it is political decisions that have got us here. Labour will take serious action to end homelessness in line with the recommendations of the Cross-Party Homelessness Inquiry. We will make sure there is enough emergency housing in Rotorua and that every rental home is warm, dry and healthy to live in.
New Zealand First has committed to building more homes in Rotorua. This would be done by a government agency called Kiwi Housing. Initially we need small modular homes to fix the immediate problem that the National, Maori Party government has created in Rotorua. Ideally, these homes would be made from NZ wood processed here in Rotorua. NZ First has plans to introduce a Housing commission so that long term we have enough land and a constant supply of homes being built, either by private developers or Kiwi Housing, this would mean lower rents and more affordable homes for everyone.
Tamati Coffey, Waiariki candidate, Labour
Maori Party trumpeted $122 million for Maori housing. The result? A measly 11 whare built for whanau and a further 66 consented, except you can't live in a consent. Is this good enough? No, and Maori voters are waking up to the fact that the big talk is just talk. Maori are in the worst statistics for homelessness and Rotorua is the hub. We need houses. Rotorua needed a Special Housing Accord well before Te Ururoa and Todd McClay hit re-election time. Through Kiwi Build, Labour will build affordable homes for Rotorua. Labour will make sure that our Maori people not only get homes, but that other health services will be wrapped around them and fully funded. Better Homes, Better Healthcare, Hoake Tatau!
Te Ururoa Flavell, Waiariki candidate, Maori Party
Manaakitanga is at the heart of Maori Party kaupapa and Rotorua is also renowned for its manaakitanga of our visitors. We need to extend manaakitanga to homeless whanau and find community-led, whanau-centred solutions.
To end homelessness, I would prioritise the following:
- Resource and prioritise wrap around services to get whanau off the streets and into safe, healthy homes. - Deploy specialist navigators who were skilled housing placement co-ordinators, able to work long term with whanau. - Extend homeless hub trials I kicked off in 2016. - Set up a one stop transition centre at local marae.
- Rotorua Maori Party candidate Wendy Biddle did not provide a response before the deadline for this article.