16 Feb 2010

Reserved decision over state house eviction wrangle

2:17 pm on 16 February 2010

The fate of three women Housing New Zealand is trying to evict from their homes in the Lower Hutt suburb of Pomare remains undecided, following a hearing in the Court of Appeal.

In March last year, Housing New Zealand issued 90-day eviction notices against the women after a neighbour in Farmer Crescent claimed she'd been terrorised by the women's partners who were members of the Mongrel Mob gang.

The tenants took a case in the Tenancy Tribunal claiming the eviction notices were discriminatory. The Tribunal upheld Housing New Zealand's right to end the tenancies.

Since then, the District Court and High Court have upheld Housing New Zealand's right to issue the eviction notices.

On Tuesday, the women's lawyer asked the Court of Appeal to hear the case, saying Housing New Zealand had discriminated against the women and breached their rights under the Bill of Rights. The Court has reserved its decision.