17 May 2021
Martin Strickland
[FYI request #14263 email]
Dear Mr Strickland
Thank you for your request of 8 December 2020 in which you ask the following questions in regards to
the property at 240 Rangiuru Road.
1. Does Kainga Ora own the property at 240 Rangiuru Road, Rangiuru?
Given the property is large, well set up (but needing some alteration) and ideally placed to
house three or four families, has Kainga Ora given consideration to using it as a stable and self
care environment for families who are either in a motel or inadequately housed in the area?
I say this as well being through places and communities (Kainga Ora) must be a priority for
families doing it hard and down on their luck and the State assisting them to get back on their
feet and find somewhere more permanent to live. Given Corrections intends to place individual
criminals for up to 18 months here surely families could be well helped within that period?
2. If Kainga Ora has considered the property, why is it not using it as directly suggested above.
Whilst the Community in the Road has not specifically discussed this am sure it would find
quite a degree of support given such families would readily undertake criminal checks, prove
they were not gang members and so on to prove themselves law abiding citizens just needing
a hand up with some wrap around support by Government.
3. If Kainga Ora has not considered the property please advise why not?
What really sticks out here is that we are considering the needs of 15 Offenders who have not
followed the law of the land over and above the needs of several families.
4. Please advise if it is now official Government Department policy to prioritise criminal minded
individuals over families with Children?
Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities purchased the property at 240 Rangiuru Road on behalf of the
Department of Corrections under the Housing and Support Services programme. The property was
purchased for the purpose of establishing a community residential transitional housing service for men
released from prison.
There is a significant need for supported housing in the Bay of Plenty for men being released from
prison or needing suitable accommodation to serve a community-based sentence. This residential
service will provide navigational services for residents to develop the skills and access the services
and employment needed to reintegrate into the community and live a crime free life. Given that the
property was acquired for this specific purpose, consideration was not given to other uses.
You also requested the following information:
“In connection to a property leased / owned or previously leased / owned by Kainga Ora at number
240 Rangiuru Road, Rangiuru, can I please receive electronic copies of all information that relate to
the calendar years 2019 and 2020 in respect of:
- Any and all interactions* between Kainga Ora and the Department of Corrections concerning that
property;
*all interactions includes emails, letters, transcripts of meetings, minutes of meetings, official
documents relating to the property, reports of telephone conversations between staff of the two
respective Departments.”
I have identified 15 documents within the scope of your request, which are listed in the
following table.
#
Document
1
Email trail ending 23 May 2019
2
Email of 30 August 2019, including 3
resource consent attachments
3
Email of 18 September 2019
4
Email trail ending 9 October 2019
5
Email trail ending 13 October 2019
6
Email trail ending 14 November 2019
7
Email trail ending 22 November 2019
8
Email trail ending 27 November 2019
9
Email trail ending 27 November 2019
10
Email of 10 December 2019 attaching
Property and Environment Scan
11
Email of 16 December 2019
12
Email of 2 December 2020 attaching a fact
sheet for 240 Rangiuru Road.
13
Email of 15 December 2020
14
Email trail ending 21 December 2020
15
Extracts from meetings of Transitional
Housing Project – Integrated Project Control
Group
I am providing you with these documents.
I have withheld some information from the documents under the Official Information Act as
follows:
Section 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons
mobile and direct dial phone numbers of staff
names of third parties
some details of intended residents
Section 9(2)(j) necessary to enable any public service agency holding the information
to carry on, without prejudice, negotiations
discussions and financial information relevant to pricing and purchasing strategy
Two comments have also been withheld under section 9(2(g)(i)
necessary to maintain the
effective conduct of public affairs through the free and frank expression of opinions. Where information has been withheld the withholding ground is shown on the document.
I do not consider that the public interest in release of this information outweighs the need to
withhold it.
I sincerely apologise for the delay in providing you with this response.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of this decision by the Ombudsman.
Information about how to make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Rachel Kelly
Manager Government Relations
