Strong Voices

Associate Housing Minister Poto Williams took a look at some new Accessible Properties (AP) houses in Manurewa earlier this year and used them as a backdrop to talk about improved protections for tenants.

It gave tenant Tracey Harris a chance to show off her new home in Tokatoka Lane, Manurewa and talk to the Minister.

“I’m privileged to be in a brand-new home, and it was great to show her through,” Tracey says. “She was just amazed at my whole house.”

Tracey and her family moved into the five-bedroom home last year – one of 23 AP properties in the Manurewa development.

The development is made up of 53 houses and is a partnership between Accessible Properties and fellow community housing providers Emerge Aotearoa and Penina Trust.

Poto Williams and local MP Dr Neru Leavasa chose Tokatoka Lane as a venue to make a speech about changes to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA).

“It was a fantastic opportunity for tenants to hear about the changes to the RTA first-hand, and what it meant for them,” says AP Senior Tenancy Manager Val Johnston.

After her speech, the Minister met Tracey and other tenants to talk about their homes.

Caption: (From left) Takanini MP Dr Neru Leavasa, Associate Housing Minister Poto Williams and tenant Tracey Harris.