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Regional | Homeless

Huntly tenant facing eviction overwhelmed by support

A Huntly woman is disputing an eviction notice served to her by Housing NZ, and will continue to fight to stay in the home permanently. There has been an outpouring of support for Hanna Matia.

Matia is disputing claims from the Ministry of Social Development that she didn't respond to them informing her that she was no longer entitled to social housing because their household income was too high.

“I have been in touch with them, I rang them and rang them and rang them.  And that was the reason why I was ringing, cause to let them know, that I had my daughter, my son and my granddaughter move into the home.”

Their household income is $70,000.  She says she was advised by the Huntly Housing office to seek support from Waikato-Tainui as an eviction was imminent. However, she was faced with more difficulties.

“They did sit me down, and went through our finances, and there was nothing they could help me with, because of my debt situation.”

Last night, we aired on Te Kāea and Native Affairs her bid to stay in her four-bedroom home of 23 years. She has been overwhelmed by the response both locally and across the country.

“They've contacted me and let me know there's support out there.  A couple of people have offered to actually buy the home, and if they can, that they can rent to buy it back to me.”

It costs $420 a week to rent a four-bedroom home in Huntly. While that may be affordable for some families, for Hanna it isn't.

Hauraki-Waikato MP Nanaia Mahuta told Te Kāea that she is organising a meeting next Monday with government agencies and Hanna to discuss her bid to buy the home.