While 1100 families languish on state house waiting lists in the Wellington region alone, homes are being abandoned and left to rot by the Government, Labour Housing spokesperson Moana Mackey and Rimutaka MP Chris Hipkins said today.

“Phil Heatley made big promises before the last election about upgrading state houses. But residents of the Hutt Valley suburb of Pomare are still waiting for him to get out of electioneering mode and into doing something mode,” Ms Mackey said.

“More than 40 state houses are sitting empty Pomare, waiting for long-promised renovations.

“Unfortunately, Mr Heatley has already forgotten his fine words and has slashed the budget for acquisition and improvement of state houses by more than 80 percent in this year’s Budget.

“His explanation that he was withholding necessary maintenance work in Pomare because of a local court case is ridiculous.

“Mr Heatley claimed on television last night that the upgrade of more than 40 state houses in Pomare was on hold because three families are taking court action against Housing New Zealand. He confirmed this in Parliament today.

“It is completely unacceptable that an entire community can be punished for the actions of a few. This is a vindictive action from a minister desperate to find excuses for the reduced funding for state housing,” Moana Mackey said.

Rimutaka MP Chris Hipkins called on the Government to get on with redeveloping the empty houses so that families can have decent homes to live in.

“For some time the residents of Pomare have been led to believe that a major redevelopment is being planned. It’s time for the Government to make good on that promise. At the moment they are turning this neighbourhood into a ghost town.

“National has abandoned the people of Pomare. That’s just disgraceful.

“I invite the Minister of Housing to visit this community with me to see first hand the damage being caused by his decision to withhold this funding,” Chris Hipkins said.