State Housing Action Network

26 June 2018

HNZC Board and Senior management requested to resign

Two days ago the State Housing Action Network wrote to all Board members and senior managers of Housing New Zealand Corporation (HNZC) requesting they resign their positions.

Over the past two weeks we have received numerous harrowing stories showing how the callous enforcement of bogus meth test results in HNZC homes has devastated the lives of so many HNZC tenants and their families.

The wrong people with the wrong values are running HNZC at the most senior levels.

There must be a transformational culture change in HNZC and these people are obstacles to that change.

As well as failing in their most basic of duties of care, HNZC board members – which includes National Party crony appointees – received a 63% pay rise just two years ago. They take home $49,000 each year to attend a handful of all-expenses-paid meetings which have rubber stamped policies creating huge harm to the most vulnerable New Zealanders.

Meanwhile senior HNZC managers are on six figure salaries but can't perform the simplest of public service jobs with care or compassion. The corporation's behaviour towards tenants has been unconscionable.

They have failed. They are obstacles to change. They must go.

John Minto
Convenor
State Housing Action Network

The letter has been sent to HNZC Board members –
• Adrienne Young-Cooper (Chair)
• John Duncan (Deputy Chair)
• Michael Schur
• Tau Henare
• Mark Ratcliffe
• Peter Dow
• Alick Shaw
• Sandra Alofivae

The letter has been sent to the members of the “executive team” at HNZC which comprises:
• Andrew McKenzie – Chief Executive
• Greg Groufsky – Deputy Chief Executive
• Paul Commons – Chief Operating Officer
• Matthew Needham – Chief Financial Officer
• Patrick Dougherty – General Manager Asset Development
• Caroline Butterworth – General Manager Communications and Stakeholders
• Rowan Macrae – General Manager People Technology and Change
• Andrew Booker – General Manager Business Innovation and Development
• Gareth Stiven – General Manager Strategy
The letter which has been sent to each person individually reads as follows:
Kia ora _______________,

Justice, fairness and compassion demand your resignation

Over the past three weeks we have received many harrowing stories from Housing New Zealand Corporation tenants as a result of your botched meth testing policies.

Tenants and families have been evicted, their possessions destroyed and their lives torn apart through the crass application of callous policies based on meth contamination levels less than typically found on any $20 note.

In the majority of cases reported to us the people evicted were not responsible for the meth contamination and often had no idea where it originated.

This was immaterial to HNZC. Natural justice, fairness and compassion played no part in what followed as these families were thrown out on the street, sometimes with just a few days notice.

It’s clear that under your corporate leadership Housing New Zealand has followed the most brutal, unjust and punitive policies towards the most vulnerable of New Zealanders.

HNZC must undergo a cultural transformation and your presence is an obstacle to this occurring.

Justice, fairness and compassion demand your resignation.

We request you resign without further delay and look forward to news this has occurred.

Na,

John Minto
Convenor
State Housing Action Network

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