Peck's pensioner rent plan not accepted

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 474, 23 February 1993, Page 3

Peck's pensioner rent plan not accepted

Giving Ruapehu's community boards the job of setting council pensioner housing rents in their areas was an idea that failed to find favour with the majority of Ruapehu District Councillors last Friday. Waimarino covmcillor Bob Peck moved that the responsibility for setting rents be delegated to community boards and ward committees. He said it was unfair for a pensioner in Raetihi to be paying the same rent for a council flat as one in Taumarunui, because there were not the same services available there. Raetihi was without many services such as many hospital services, transport, banking, post office and railway station. Cr Peck said a Raetihi pensioner, receiving $749.12 per month would spend $200 on rent,

$100 on food, $100 on insurance, $50 on phone, $50 for electricity, leaving only $49 a month for other expenses including medical fees. He said food cost more in Raetihi. "I spent $96 for groceries in Raetihi recently and only $56 for the same goods in Wanganui," said Cr Peck. Raetihi was colder than Taumarunui so a pensioner there would spend more on electricity, year-round. Mayor Workman said the council had to decide whether to change the present policy, which is for uniform rents across the district, and then if so, if it was acceptable for the community boards to set rents. Cr Bobby Vine said Ruapehu's rentals seemed fair in relation to the New Zealand average (based on figures presented).

"All those concerns apply to all other residents of Raetihi," said Cr Graeme Cosford. "(Cr Peck) is asking all others to subsidise the rents of these pensioners, while it may be that in some cases they are in a better position than other people, for example pensioners in their own homes." "I have grave concerns for the state of some families, for example solo parents," said Cr Ellen Gould. "If we put one more cent on their rates it could drive them to the wall." "Now there are so many facing hardship who don't fall into those usually identified such as beneficiaries," she said. Cr John Compton said there needed to be flexibility in the policy, to be able to match a tenant's ability to pay.