Wahine Maori Fight for the Human Right to Housing

Wahine Maori fight for the Human Right to Housing

Three wahine Maori , Robyn Winther, Huia Tamaka and Billy Taylor fighting Housing NZ
attempts to evict them from their homes because of their gang connections. They have
had their appeal dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

This has been a long and arduous fight through the court system. Te Wharepora Hou
would like to congratulate these women for their tenacity & strength in fighting these
evictions all the way to the Court of Appeal.

Attacks on the civil rights of ‘gang’ members & their so called ‘associates’ are thinly
veiled attacks on flax roots Maori.

Housing New Zealand is a public body. The Bill of Rights applies to every decision
it makes. The right to housing is a basic human right. These wahine have fought for
shelter for themselves and their tamariki. Housing New Zealand has no right to trample
over the freedom of expression and freedom of association of these women and the 13
tamariki that they care for between them.

We are witnessing the abandonment by the government of any responsibility for
people's welfare. The treatment of these women looks like another step towards the
future privatisation of HNZ.

Huia Tamaka, 33, said today she was trying to keep her spirits up for her six children.

"I'm a bit shattered. It's so unfair. I haven't done anything wrong. [HNZ] know no-one's
going to house us after this. I've got nowhere else to go, so it's to the bitter end for me. I
can't give in, I've got the kids to think of."

After hearing the ruling yesterday the three women vowed to fight on.

Te Wharepora Hou wishes to give them and their tamariki our unqualified support

Contact

Sina Brown-Davis

uriohau@gmail.com

skype: temoananuakiwa