Lynore Craig

Three weeks ago, just as the country was beginning to relax and focus on celebrating Matariki, the Government quietly announced massive cuts to our state housing programme.

Chris Bishop, Minister of Housing, unveiled details of a "reset" to focus Kāinga Ora on its "core role" as a landlord not a developer.

As a result of this decision, Kāinga Ora has cancelled 212 planned housing projects, equating to 3479 new homes and selling land the agency deems excess to requirements.

In some areas families moved out of their homes to enable rebuilding of their homes, which is now cancelled and some land being sold to private developers. Where do those families go?

In Whakatāne, this means these planned homes will not be built

* 5 homes in King Street

* 53 homes in King Street-Stewart Street -Washer Avenue

* 14 homes in Apanui-Pounamu Place

In Ōpōtiki, this means these planned homes will not be built

* 3 homes in High Street

* 3 homes in Princes Street

* 2 homes in Stewart Street

We already have a housing shortage and long waiting lists and with these cuts the problem exacerbated along with the potential social problems when families do not have safe, warm secure housing. How can children learn, build healthy stable relationships in their community without that security? Harsher penalties and longer prison sentences are not the answer.

Shame on this Government for another decision that makes life more difficult for more families while supporting developers.