National Party commits to funding tenant advocacy

Last night, in partnership with Generation Zero, Renters United hosted candidates Chris Bishop (National), Ben Wylie-van Erd (TOP), Ibrahim Omer (Labour), and Julie Anne Genter (Greens) in the Wellington Central Baptist Church.

Renters and advocates from across the country shared their stories, while Renters United put three policy asks to the candidates.

Cam Jenkins from the Manawatu Tenants’ Union started by handing each candidate a piece of paper covered with houses.

Speaking to the candidates Jenkins said “What you see before you are the people I have saved from their cars and from living on the street. The numbers you see are the people that live in those houses.

“Each of these people have had their voices heard before the Tribunal because they have been silenced by landlords. Without a tenant advocate these voices wouldn’t be heard.

Recently the Manawatu Tenants Union faced uncertainty as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Minister of Housing’s Office couldn’t agree on who should reinstate the $18,600 previously provided to the life saving service.

“I spent three months battling HUD and MSD to reinstate funding that was lost. Three months of my year were spent fighting to get this funding reinstated on a temporary basis.

One of the renters the Manawatu Tenants Union supported was a pregnant woman about to give birth to twins facing an eviction notice from her landlord for exceeding the occupancy limit.

Addressing the crowd Jenkins asked “When you’re facing eviction, who do you turn to? It’s people like us that specialise in Tenancy Law”

Candidates were asked “Will you commit to the continued funding of tenant advocate services such as the Manawatu Tenants Union, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Law, and their equivalents across the Country?”

Ibrahim Omer (Labour), Ben Wylie-van Erd (TOP), Julie Anne Genter (Greens), and Chris Bishop (National) all responded “YES”.

Speaking after the event Renters United President Geordie Rogers welcomed the commitments from parties across the political spectrum.

“Secure funding for Tenants Advocacy organisations will go a long way to building stronger, resilient, and connected communities.

“When renters have to uphold their rights it’s far easier to do that with a helping hand, and that’s exactly what organisations like the Manawatu Tenants’ Union, Citizens Advice Bureau and Community Law provide.

“I have no doubt that continued funding for these organisations will have a lasting impact for everyone renting in Aotearoa.

NOTES TO EDITOR

The questions and responses of candidates throughout the event were:

Will you commit to the continued funding of tenant advocate services such as the Manawatu Tenants Union, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Law, and their equivalents across the Country?

• Ibrahim Omer (YES), Ben Wylie-van Erd (YES), Julie Anne Genter (YES), Chris Bishop (YES)

Will you commit to increasing enforcement of the Healthy Homes Standards and investigating the legislation of a Rental WoF in collaboration with Tenant Advocates and Community Health Experts?

• Ibrahim Omer (YES), Ben Wylie-van Erd (YES), Julie Anne Genter (YES), Chris Bishop (Refuse to answer)

If elected, will you commit to ruling out the return of ‘no cause’ evictions? Further to this, do you commit to advocating against them in partnership with us?

• Ibrahim Omer (YES), Ben Wylie-van Erd (YES), Julie Anne Genter (YES), Chris Bishop (NO)

The full event recording can be found at https://www.facebook.com/GenZeroNZ/videos/1128782831429180

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