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Posted on 13-5-2002
Shanty
Town On Queen St
A mock shanty town will be built in Aotea
Square from mid morning Wednesday 15th May to advertise a major
public
meeting in the evening on the proposed sales of all Auckland
Citys
public housing stock. The meeting, at 7.30pm at Aotea Methodist
Mission,
370 Queen Street, is being organised by the Council Housing
Action Group
(CHAG), in their campaign to stop this shocking and heartless
decision by
Auckland City Council.
Members of the public at the meeting, and
those visiting the shanty town during the day, will be encouraged
to put
in submissions to the Councils draft annual plan consultation
calling
for an end to the sales proposals.
Speakers
include:John Tamihere MP
urban iwi perspective
David Hay, Deputy Mayor, Auckland City Council
Dr Bruce Hucker, Auckland City
CouncilloMaree Todd,
President, National Association of Gerontology implications
on older
persons health
Audrey Evans, Secretary, Grey Power (Auckland)
Maureen Alexander, Pensioner Action Group
Peter Cross, Council Housing Action Group
The meeting will also express disquiet
about the impending 65% rent increase for the Councils pensioner
tenants. Following a successful meeting last Friday in Blockhouse
Bay
with 50 pensioner tenants the pensioner action group is concerned
that
pensioners are being intimidated into signing agreements with
WINZ for
accommodation supplement. This will result in many tenants paying
nearly
30% of their low income on rent, and for some, even more. The
government has recognised that 25% of ones income is a fair
amount to
pay, says Maureen Alexander, of the pension action group. On
our
tight budgets we cannot afford to pay any more. Pensioners should
not be
intimidated, and should ask for time to fully understand the
implications
of the situation. This is not how Council should treat its older
citizens.
For further information please contact
Sigrid Shayer, media spokesperson CHAG, ph 3611517
For information about the Shanty Town,
contact Jim Gladwin, ph 8284517
For information about the pensioner
action group, contact Maureen Alexander, ph 378 9139
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