The recent TV exposure on motels used to provide emergency housing initiated more correspondence warning us not to succumb to pressure. TRM has been in business providing holiday accommodation for anglers for over sixty years, and they are still our focus. (At present we have four units with inmates who escaped from West Island.) So we need to confirm again, our guest policy has not changed.
(TRM are under constant pressure to provide accommodation to the homeless. We have a social conscience but previous experience confirms they are not compatible with tourist guest anglers. Some do not even stay here but still abuse our guest facilities. A couple of weeks ago we discovered our guest laundry being used by people who were not guests. When confronted they drove off abandoning our guest dryer choked so full of wet clothes they would never dry. We tried to help them and dried their excessive load in our commercial dryer but when they did not return it was donated to the local Hospice charity shop.)
Tongariro River Motel confirms it is not available for homeless – if you believe what some critics post on facebook? – as the owners are anti-iwi and too mean. If that is what they imagine, that is fine with us…
Last week we heard of two local motels accommodating gang “mob members”.
TRM’s management policy is very clear. We reiterate that we have advised WINZ and their agents – Turangi iSite – that we will not accept any bookings from them.
Our experience with guests from WINZ has not been good, but we cannot risk any intimidation on our regular ‘inmates’. When we questioned WINZ on overcrowding units with guard dogs, etc. they refused to be accountable for their clients abuse.
TRM cannot afford to spoil the enjoyment of valuable longer term angler guests. We think more of our guests than risking or subjecting them to that. Also, due to heavy forward bookings by anglers, fortunately, there are no units with a full week available. OK?. Whew – that’s a relief!
That was TRM’s blog four years ago!
More recent reports:
Govt has spent $1b on emergency housing grants, including motel accommodation
By Jason Walls 29 Jun, 2022
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni during Question Time. Photo / Photo Mark Mitchell
The Government has spent more than $1 billion on emergency housing grants since it came into office five years ago.
A large proportion of that money has been spent on housing people in need of accommodation in motels across the country.
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni confirmed through answers to written parliamentary questions that since December 2017, the Government’s spent $1.2b through the grants.
Record $365 million spent on emergency housing
By Benedict Collins, Fri, Feb 18
Government spends record amount on emergency housing in 2021
A staggering $356 million was paid out to motels and hostels to accommodate the 10,000 (Source: 1News)
The Government is blaming Covid-19 for the stubbornly-high figures in emergency housing.
“Throughout the first two quarters of last year, the number of people requiring emergency housing fell across New Zealand. However, following the move into Level 4 Lockdown in August, numbers began to rise again,” Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni told 1News.
And she said as numbers rise, so too does the cost to Government.
Figures obtained by 1News show the five motels paid the most last year received more than $26 million for providing emergency accommodation.
The MCentral Apartments in Manukau received $6.9 million, Kerrs Motel and Homestay in nearby Wiri $6 million.
In Hamilton, Anglesea Motel and Hygate Motor Lodge got $5.2 million and $4.4 million respectively.
Napier’s Bluewater Hotel received $4 million.
In total, the Government paid motels and hostels $365 million in the past year to accommodate those in need.
The Bluewater’s hotel director Rodney Green told 1News they were providing accommodation for about 400 locals because the local rental market was diabolical.
“It’s extremely tough, for the average person on the street there’s no opportunity to get a rental house,” he said.