29 August 2023
Warren Murdoch
[FYI request #23799 email]
Tēnā koe Warren
Thank you for your email of 12 August to Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities requesting the
fol owing information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
1. Number of Kainga Ora tenants who have been evicted from their houses between
11/7/22 and 10/7/23.
2. Number of complaints that have been received against Kainga Ora tenants between
11/7/22 and 10/7/23 and the number of complaints that have been substantiated.
3. Number of Kainga Ora houses that have been found to be contaminated with
methamphetamine over the current guideline level of 1.5
4.
Number of peope who are on the waiting list for a Kainga Ora houses in Ohakune.
On 17 August 2023, Kāinga Ora transferred part 4 of the request to the Ministry of Social
Development under section 14 of the Act.
Background information
The following commentary is provided as context and needs to be read in conjunction with the
information provided.
Some 200,000 people build their lives in our homes. The vast majority of these people are good
neighbours and members of their communities. However, in a smal minority of cases disruptive
behaviour causes highly stressful and unacceptable conditions for neighbours.
When problems arise, we respond promptly and seek positive outcomes for both the people we
house and their communities.
Inevitably, this can involve a balancing act. No one wants to see homelessness, particularly
where it affects children. But neither can people be expected to put up with intolerable
situations.
Where there is il egal behaviour, we support the involvement of police. In other cases, we work
with people and whānau, often alongside specialist agencies, to address what can be complex
social needs.
The impact of eviction on whānau and tamariki, who make up half the people we house, can be
traumatic and intergenerational, further impacting other aspects of their lives such as health and
education. People stil need housing, creating a revolving door where problems can compound
and perpetuate.
We can and do move people if necessary. Any relocation has to take into account the
implications for the person and their family/whānau, especial y any children living in the home.
Ending a tenancy is always a last resort
. Experience has shown it does not solve problems. We
aim to avoid evictions and homelessness, and have adopted an approach to providing public
housing that helps people remain in, or get back to, a state of wellbeing.
Responses to questions one to three of your request are below.
1. Number of Kainga Ora tenants who have been evicted from their houses between 11/7/22
and 10/7/23.
Between 11 July 2022 and 10 July 2022, one Kāinga Ora tenant has been evicted from their
home.
2. Number of complaints that have been received against Kainga Ora tenants between 11/7/22
and 10/7/23 and the number of complaints that have been substantiated.
Between 11/7/22 and 10/7/23 there were 8,434 complaints recorded in the system. It is important
to note that around 85 percent of complaints Kāinga Ora received are for minor things like car
noise, frequency of visitors or lawns not being mowed.
Kāinga Ora does not record whether the complaint was subsequently substantiated. Therefore,
this aspect of your request is refused under section 18(g)(i), in that the information requested is
not held by the department, and the person dealing with the request has no grounds for believing
that the information is either held by another department or connected more closely with the
functions of another department.
3. Number of Kainga Ora houses that have been found to be contaminated with
methamphetamine over the current guideline level of 1.5
Kāinga Ora has had 361 homes that exceeded the methamphetamine (meth) decontamination
threshold and been decontaminated over the last five years. Of note, five years is the best
timeframe that we can provide, as the testing thresholds, methods and data collection accuracy
were different prior to that.
Kāinga Ora meth testing thresholds are based on the Sir Peter Gluckman ESR Report for
Methamphetamine Contamination in Residential Properties of 2018 (15 μg/100cm²), and, where
contractual y required for the purposes of leasing a property from a private owner, the New
Zealand Standard 8510:2017 (1.5 μg/100cm²).
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of my decision on
your request. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or Freephone 0800 802 602.
Please note that Kāinga Ora proactively releases its responses to official information requests
where possible. Our response to your request may be published at
https:/ kaingaora.govt.nz/publications/official-information-requests/, with your personal
information removed.
Nāku noa, nā
Rachel Kelly
Manager, Government Relations
