State housing tenants to protest against the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company

The Tāmaki Housing Group are holding a protest today, Friday 8 May, outside the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company (TRC). This protest is in response to the Government’s recently released plan to privatise 2,800 state houses through a stock transfer to TRC.

TRC formed in 2013 through the Heads of Agreement between the Auckland Council and the Government. TRC’s main shareholders are Auckland Council (41%), Minister of Finance Bill English (29.5%) and Minister of Building and Housing Nick Smith (29.5%).

TRC’s model for the wider Tāmaki area was to revitalise the area and build a mixture of housing - social, affordable and private. They are now taking on the role of landlord, with no prior experience in acting as social landlords.

Under the social housing reforms, state houses are being transferred to community housing groups, but also to developers. These community groups do not have the capacity to look after these houses without significant government subsidy.

The Salvation Army rejected the offer of ex-state houses based on figures which proved the inability of CHPs to sustainably manage large-scale transfers. Internationally, when public housing has been given to charities or companies it results in progressive privatisation where the housing is eventually sold and tenants are evicted.

Glen Innes was the pilot project for the rest of Tāmaki, where redevelopment companies have been involved in a state-led gentrification process under the disguise of urban renewal. This has involved the eviction of tenants and the removal or demolition of state houses.

TRC have already been involved in the destruction of the community of Glen Innes, where the poor are being evicted so that the wealthy can move in. They have silenced the voices of community members who are concerned with their future through a lack of consultation and they have not been upfront about their role in the redevelopment with the people directly affected.

This protest is a call to action to all state housing tenants, especially those in the Tāmaki area - Panmure, Point England, and Glen Innes. This redevelopment company is not working for you to make your communities better, they are there to make profit off the increased land values.

Join the Tāmaki Housing Group at 12PM this Friday 8 May outside the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company offices, 244 Apirana Ave, Glen Innes.

ENDS

© Scoop Media