As the 2024 plan is still being debated, social housing won't get a look-in for funds until 2032 if Council staff recommendations are adopted.

The Council currently houses more than 3000 tenants across 1900 homes through housing provider Te Toi Mahana.

Deferred maintenance

When it meets on Thursday to vote on the long-term plan, the Council would like councillors to defer social housing upgrades.

Citing the need to cut back, staff note overall savings from the social housing upgrades would be $61.3 million. That money would be used to create a disaster fund and to contribute to the $500m the Council needs to address its under-insurance gap.

The upgrades include work which the Council must undertake as part of its Deed of Grant with the Government. They include work like seismic strengthening, insulation, ventilation, fencing and lighting, as well as kitchens, storage and laundry facility upgrades.

The Government funded $220m for this in 2007. In return the Council was to remain a social housing provider until at least 2037 - and upgrade its housing portfolio to modern standards.

Tenants deserve better

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau says it is Councillors' responsibility - not Council staff's - to decide where savings come from.

She wants an amendment to the staff report to remove the recommendation for deferring housing upgrades.

"This will mean tenants can get the safe, dry homes they deserve" she says.

Social housing is one of the "non-negotiables" Whanau is firm about.

A different model

In Auckland, Council staff help support Manaaki Tangata, a hospitality and care facility.

The collaboration between Auckland Council, Eke Panuku and Maori Wardens responds to the needs of those experiencing homelessness in the city centre.

Council staff say the facility means "Our most vulnerable can ... have a shower and some food, store their belongings, and ultimately the hope is we can connect them to other services available to help them".

"For some, it might be their first time on the street, they've done something to get themselves kicked out and they literally have nowhere to go. It's a very scary reality having nowhere to go."

Some mightn't start on the streets with a drinking or drug problem but, to survive, they end up with one, says a Maori warden.

"That's where we come in ... sometimes just getting people that help, helps them to make that good decision."

Source

• Our Auckland
• The Post

A Curia poll found support from 87 per cent of respondents as lawmakers prepare to set new rules governing the availability of poker machines.

Across the Auckland region there are 4,183 pokie machines at 305 different venues. In 2011, $245 million dollars was lost on them.

Problem gambling figures suggest that around 40% of that money came from problem gamblers who are usually those who can least afford it.

Opposition to gambling venues has also been revealed in the more than 9,500 submissions received on Auckland Council's proposed policies on TAB and pokie venues.

The council aims to set policies for non-casino pokie venues, with 4069 gambling machines in pubs and clubs across the city.

Local governments are obliged by law to set policies and the new policy was the first chance to have a unified approach across Auckland.

"It's great to see so many people taking the time to make their views known on the subject of gambling," says Councillor Cathy Casey, Chair of the council's Social and Community Development Forum.

"We identified the need to minimise gambling-related harm in the Auckland Plan. These two policies are a way we can achieve that. It is clear from the number of submissions that our communities care very much about gambling in Auckland."

Problem Gambling Foundation national health manager Tony Milne said a sinking-lid policy would stop licences to run pokies being transferred from bars and clubs which closed. "The most powerful submissions come from people who have experienced the harm from pokie machines with accounts of lives … torn apart by pokie machines."

Source

• NZsport.yahoo.com
• The New Zealand Herald
• blog.greens.org.nz
• bobmccroskie.com
• Image: 3News

This follows a decision by Auckland Council's hearings committee to rescind its December decision to have an independent commissioner decide whether the public should have a say.

Opponents include Auckland's Bishop Pat Dunn.