10. Question No. 10—Housing (Public Housing)NICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)Question No. 10—Housing (Public Housing)10. NICOLA WILLIS (National) to the Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing): Does she stand by her statement that Kāinga Ora do not have a no-evictions policy"; if so why haven't there been any evictions for more than three and a half years?Hon POTO WILLIAMS (Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing)): To the first part of the member's question yes. Since April 217 Kāinga Ora and its predecessor agency Housing New Zealand have had a sustainable tenancies policy. Kāinga Ora has a number of tools at its disposal to deal with disruptive behaviour. If an issue occurs Kāinga Ora engages with its tenants in a household action plan and works with them on this plan. This is focused on providing wraparound support and connecting them with other agencies. Kāinga Ora has also developed an intensive tenancy management service to provide tailored support to tenants with high and complex needs. Eviction is a last resort and Kāinga Ora has where necessary relocated tenants. I've advised the House earlier this week that 159 households have been relocated in the past 12 months.Nicola Willis: How can she say Kāinga Ora do not have a no-evictions policy when Kāinga Ora has provided statements to the Tenancy Tribunal that it has "purposefully chosen a policy of seeking to preserve and not terminate tenancies" and its policy "was not to issue 90-day notices nor to terminate tenancies"?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: As I've already said there is a no-evictions policy. What we do have is a sustainable tenancies policy—a policy that has been in place since the last National Government.Nicola Willis: What steps if any has she taken to address a ruling by the Tenancy Tribunal that Kāinga Ora's no-evictions policy has led Kāinga Ora to breach its obligations as a landlord under the Residential Tenancies Act with the tribunal determining that "This is clearly a situation that cannot continue."?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I have no knowledge of that particular case. I invite the member to put that in writing and submit it to my office.Nicola Willis: Which does she believe Kāinga Ora should make the priority: their legal obligation as a landlord to protect its tenants from unreasonable interference from other tenants or her policy not to terminate tenancies?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: I've always said that it is our absolute responsibility to ensure that tenants are safe and can live in safe housing. What I do know is that Kāinga Ora have a range of tools at their disposal including something they have used this year which is transfers which they have used quite successfully. I encourage the member when she has situations that occur like this to ensure that Kāinga Ora are fully advised and encouraged to support those tenants and at the very outset encouraged to use all of the mechanisms at their disposal.Nicola Willis: Will she direct Kāinga Ora to end the policy banning State house evictions or is she satisfied with the situation where Kāinga Ora continues to break the law by allowing its tenants to terrorise innocent New Zealanders?Hon POTO WILLIAMS: An eviction is a very specific process and it involves the Tenancy Tribunal and ending a tenancy with a court bailiff taking possession of property. This Government is committed to sustaining tenancies the policy that has been in place since the National Government."