Social housing advocates protested outside court on Wednesday morning as their legal challenge to the Government's plan to sell state housing got underway.
State Housing Action stood outside the Wellington High Court with banners, while their lawyers asked for a judicial review of the sell-off of 1124 state homes in Tauranga.
The Government announced its intention to sell the homes last year, choosing IHC subsidiary Accessible Properties as its preferred buyer.
State Housing Action spokesman John Minto says it's a disaster for families on low incomes.
"The Government's wanting to put the last nail in the coffin of the welfare state. They've attacked every aspect of providing support for vulnerable New Zealanders. They want vulnerable New Zealanders out on the street, living in cardboard boxes."
Mr Minto says this is the first big batch of state houses the Government's intending to sell, and if they're able to sell them in Tauranga, they'll find it easier to sell them elsewhere in the country.
"The Government have set their own objectives for state housing reform programme which they say will improve things for state house tenants. Our argument is it will make things worse for state house tenants."
The Government's previously said the sell-off will not affect the rights of the houses' present tenants.
Newshub.
