default-output-block.skip-main
Regional | Auckland

Eviction or Succession over Ōrakei home

An eviction notice served by the Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Trust to repossess a property at Kitemoana Street has come in to force.

Signs on Boot Hill give an indication of the brewing battle, but the property's successor, Atareta Warbrick-Arnold believes, this is an issue of succession not eviction.

"There's nothing vindictive in this, it's quite clear my whānau and I gave the decision back to the Trust Board, they made that decision," she told reporter Harata Brown today.

The iwi housing on Kitemoana Street has special leases, where the lessor can nominate a successor.

In this case, the Tenancy Tribunal found that this is the results of the process adopted by the Trust Board to determine who would be the replacement tenant at 53 Kitemoana Street, after Andrea Tuuana passed away without nominating her successor to rent the premises.

According to Andrea Tuuana's sister, Atareta Walbrick-Arnold, who also grew up in the house that was rented by their mother, “It took a long time for the Trust to decide, and then they came back and allocated the house to me. I have succeeded to my Mum's house.”

The Trust's property management arm, Whai Rawa Residential Properties LP were granted possession powers by the Tribunal when the tenancy agreement to the property ended.

A 90 day notice was issued to current tenants, Kaitlin Tuuana and her father Paul Taloa, who have lived at the Kitemoana property for over 20 years.

“At the end of the day, my niece wasn't staying permanently in that house; She was living at Mangere with her tāne on and off, and I know Paul was living in the house,” says Walbrick-Arnold.

Other family members at 53 Kitemoana did not want to speak on camera, and said that they will not make any further comment until they meet with the Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Trust Board this week.

The Trust say they followed all the necessary steps in the process and have met all of the tribunal's requirements; they have further agreed to halt any immediate action.