A former New Plymouth mayor has put in a bid to buy two blocks of Kāinga Ora flats – planning to bowl them and build apartments alongside an upmarket development he already has underway.
By Robin Martin of RNZ
Peter Tennent said he'd had enough of the unacceptable behaviour of some social housing tenants – and wanted to move his family into the neighbourhood.
The successful hotel owner served three terms as mayor of New Plymouth between 2001 and 2010 and is redevelopling two sites on Dawson Street – one featuring an apartment overlooking the Tasman Sea for his family.
He made no secret of the fact he had made frequent complaints about the behaviour of his Kāinga Ora neighbours.
"I have become a vexatious emailer, I think, to the Minister [of Housing Chris Bishop] and all and sundry concerned about the behaviour of some of the tenants across there.
"It's no surprise that, while property is doing well in New Plymouth and Taranaki, properties have been selling well below RV in and around those flats. It's been a disgrace, and I'm keen to see it sorted."
Kāinga Ora has confirmed it is putting the 1940s vintage flats on the market.
Tennent had gone so far as to make bid for the properties – four of which had recently been boarded up.
"I've made an offer on the land myself, but that will go through due process. It's fair to say my offer included a significant amount for community good, as opposed to value of the property, but I just want to see it sorted.
"Now, whether it's us or someone else that sorts it, I don't really mind. Kāinga Ora, whether they can have some good tenants in there, that would be great, but what was in place was totally unacceptable."
He said, if successful, he would develop apartments and sell them off.
A tenant of the remaining Kāinga Ora flats, who preferred not to give his name, had been told he had to move out.
"They're going to be sold off and demolished because he doesn't want his new tenants and new flash penthouses having to look at them and that's ridiculous."
The man in his 60s, who lived with a terminal illness, said Kāinga Ora had been trying to relocate him.
"They wanted to offer me one place on Seaview Rd but that's been deemed medically too cold and unfit for someone in my condition and then they offered me Dawson St [a new development] but, three days later, it was already gone.
"Then it was this one up here [St Aubyn St] where units are being built. And then suddenly it's not going to be November, it's going to be February. Then it's not going to be February, it's going to be March."
Kāinga Ora regional director for Taranaki, Graeme Broderick, confirmed all the flats were about to be sold.
"Kāinga Ora will sell two four-unit blocks on Dawson and St Aubyn streets in central New Plymouth as they are no longer suitable for social housing. Proceeds will be reinvested in delivering new, warm, dry homes elsewhere.
"One block is already empty and secured, and we're helping tenants in the other block move to other Kāinga Ora homes. Once all tenants are rehoused, the properties will go on the open market."
He said the move was in line with Kāinga Ora policy.
"The decision to sell reflects the age and location of the units, redevelopment potential, and property value. We've also considered the availability of suitable housing for affected tenants."
Broderick confirmed Kāinga Ora ended one tenancy in the units because the tenant repeatedly breached their obligations.
The social housing provider had recently delivered 14 new one-bedroom homes at 55 Dawson St nearby, and had another 16 one-bedroom homes currently under construction on St Aubyn St, among other developments in the pipeline for New Plymouth.
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