Oct 6, 2018
David and Mary McGregor and the first State House, built in 1937. Wellington, New Zealand. (1978)
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David and Mary McGregor and the first State House, built in 1937. Wellington, New Zealand. (1978)
In 1946, the New Zealand Labour Party had been in power for eleven years and now promised permanency of tenure to state tenants as a result of the building of many new state houses. Tenants could make a deposit equal to two years rental, as a prelude to eventually buying the house. The opposition National Party believed that the scheme was unworkable. Labour won the 1946 election but was defeated in 1949.
New Zealand Labour Party :Stop. Labour guarantees security of tenure as long as you live. [Cover. 1946]
Eph-A-NZ-LABOUR-1946-02
PRESS RELEASE: No Pride in Prisons Joins Resistance to State Housing Evictions
Members of prison abolitionist organisation No Pride in Prisons will be joining the Tāmaki Housing Group today to resist the eviction state housing tenant of Ioela “Niki” Rauti.
Its spokesperson Emilie Rākete says, “No Pride in Prisons is proud to join our friends and whānau in protecting Niki’s right to a home. We will be joining dozens of others in occupying Niki’s land and refusing to move until she is guaranteed the right to stay in her home.”
Rauti was served with a 90-day eviction notice, which expired on the 18th of January. The police has warned that she will be physically moved on today from 9:30am. “We intend to put our bodies on the line to stop this eviction,” says Rākete.
No Pride in Prisons believes the eviction is unjust. “One of the most frustrating things about this whole process is that it never used to be like this. State housing tenants, including Niki, were told for decades that their houses were for life.”
“The government introduced reviewable tenancies just so it could kick out state housing tenants and make some money from their eviction.”
Rauti’s house is owned by the Tāmaki Regeneration Company (TRC), which was transferred ownership from Housing New Zealand as a part of the Tāmaki redevelopment. TRC wants to develop the land that her house sits on.
“While the government and the council say these evictions are necessary to keep house prices down, we’ve seen a huge increase in house prices in the area since the redevelopments began.”
“The government is effectively kicking out old and poor people and making room for the rich. Niki’s eviction is just one part of a broader plan to undermine state housing and transfer land to the wealthy,” says Rākete.
The organisation is worried about how the move might impact Niki’s health and well-being. “Niki is an elderly woman who has a heart condition. One of the saddest parts of the Tāmaki redevelopment has been the effect on the elderly. Often, following eviction from life-long homes, elderly tenants have passed away shortly after being relocated.”
No Pride in Prisons is also concerned about the police involvement in evicting Niki. According to Rākete, “The police will do everything it can to make sure that this blatantly unjust process continues. Niki is a respected kuia, but the police intend to remove her from her home by force.”
“We oppose both Niki’s eviction and the violence we expect to see from police in order to make it happen.”
“We believe that Niki and all other tenants deserve healthy, warm and affordable homes, and the stability of knowing they won’t be evicted every time the government wants to make a buck.”
“We support the Tāmaki Housing Group and all those resisting the sell-off of state houses and the eviction of state housing tenants. This injustice is part of a broader program by this and previous governments to undermine support for poor and working class people.”
“No Pride in Prisons stands in solidarity with those fighting for safe and secure housing for all.”
State Benefit & State Provided Housing
Q) Is a person in receipt of benefit payments in the UK said to be on state benefit?
Yes. In UK usage, someone receiving benefit payments is commonly described as being “on state benefits.” This is standard terminology across government, media, and welfare guidance. It simply means the person receives payments funded by the state (i.e., public money), whether those payments are means‑tested or non‑means‑tested.
Why the term is used
Because all UK welfare payments are funded by the government (either through general taxation or National Insurance), a person receiving them is accurately described as being on 'state benefit'.
Quick clarification then
If you’re now wondering whether any benefit payment qualifies:
Yes — if it’s paid by the government, it is said to be a state benefit.
This includes disability benefits, income‑related benefits, family benefits, and contributory benefits.
Q2) So what is a person who is in receipt of a state benefit and is also living in council provided housing?
There isn’t a special or unique label for this — such a person is simply described as a council tenant who is on state benefit. That’s the standard, neutral UK phrasing.
The accurate UK terminology
1. Council tenant
This describes where they live:
They rent a home from the local authority (e.g., Dundee City Council).
It says nothing about their income or employment status.
2. On state benefits
This describes how they receive income:
They receive government‑funded welfare payments.
Put together, the correct description is:
A council tenant who receives state benefits.
Other phrases your life involvements might associate with such a circumstance
These are common but still two‑part descriptions:
Social housing tenant - on benefits
Council‑housed resident - receiving welfare payments
Benefit claimant - living in council housing
All are accurate and descriptive terms but they are not official titles. An official title is something a person who is not in receipt of welfare assistance gains from living in society. It most usually alludes to them having gained a recognised qualification from a recognised educational institution and gone on to then concern themselves with involvements in commerce. Titles are issued from such things.
1/6 Ko Street Northcote. State housing for redevelopment in Ko Street, Northcote, Auckland, New Zealand. This house was built in 1963. Housing New Zealand (now Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities) is redeveloping these properties as part of the Northcote Development. Of the 1500 new homes, one third of them will be retained by Housing New Zealand as state housing, one third will be sold to KiwiBuild buyers, and one third will be sold on the open market.
State houses on the corner of Lake Road and Bardia St, Belmont, Auckland, New Zealand.
These houses have now been demolished to build new state housing.
Photo taken 20 Dec 2019
Rainbow over duplex state house.
Bayswater, Auckland, New Zealand.