11. Question No. 11—Housing (Public Housing)NICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)Question No. 11—Housing (Public Housing)11. NICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing): Does she expect Kāinga Ora to evict public housing tenants where their ongoing anti-social behaviour is threatening the wellbeing of others or does she agree with the decision of Kāinga Ora to not evict a tenant living in public housing in Whangārei despite the tenant reportedly subjecting their elderly neighbours to a prolonged campaign of intimidation and fear"?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)): Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure living in their home and I would expect Kāinga Ora to do all they can to ensure that this is the case. I'm concerned about reports on this particular case and I've asked for an update from officials. Kāinga Ora takes complaints seriously and I expect them to get involved as soon as they become aware of an issue at one of their properties. Eviction is a very specific process. It involves the Tenancy Tribunal ending a tenancy and a court bailiff taking possession of the property. It is not the only tool available to Kāinga Ora to deal with antisocial behaviour. People who need help to be housed can sometimes have complex issues in their lives that may lead to antisocial behaviour. Our Government is committed to sustaining tenancies to ensure that they have a secure foundation from which they can get the support that they need.Nicola Willis: Has Kāinga Ora evicted any of its tenants in the past three years and if not why not?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: An eviction is a very specific process that involves as I've said the Tenancy Tribunal ending the tenancy and the court bailiff taking possession of the property. I'm advised that three evictions from Kāinga Ora homes have occurred since September 2017. I would note that eviction is not the only tool available to Kāinga Ora to deal with antisocial behaviour.Nicola Willis: Did Kāinga Ora evict any tenants this year in 2020 or in 2019 and if not why not?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: It's worth acknowledging that while Kāinga Ora has not evicted households for antisocial behaviour in recent years in the last 12 months alone we have worked to relocate 159 households with antisocial behaviour concerns.SPEAKER: Order! That did not address the question. The Minister will answer again addressing the question asked.Hon POTO WILLIAMS: No. It is worth—SPEAKER: Well the member has now answered the question. Thank you.Nicola Willis: Well is it correct as reported that Kāinga Ora now has an internal policy that has prevented the agency evicting even the most difficult abusive tenants for the past three years?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: We do not have a no-evictions policy. What we do have is a sustaining tenancies policy a policy that has been in place since the last National Government. If the member would like more information on the sustaining tenancies policy I would refer her to the Hon Amy Adams' letter of expectations to Housing New Zealand dated April 2017.Nicola Willis: What would it take for a tenant to be evicted on that Minister's watch if not the death threats and ongoing abuse experienced by a retired couple in Whangārei whose Black Power neighbour threatened to slit an 82-year-old's throat to watch him bleed out?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: As I've said everyone has the right to feel safe and secure when living in their home. Kāinga Ora take seriously complaints regarding antisocial behaviour and I expect them to get involved as soon as they become aware of the issue at their properties. I would also note that there is also an opportunity for them to call the police if serious threats are being made."