The Māori Development Minister says he is outraged by the squalid state of some private rental properties in Christchurch.
Te Ururoa Flavell Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Te Ururoa Flavell visited some properties in the city earlier this week and said they were a disgrace, with gaping holes in the floors and walls, no doors to hold in the heat, and rats.
He had asked Te Puni Kokiri, other Government ministers and the city council to look at what they could do to help people living in what he called "appalling conditions".
"I saw a wall that had been patched up with a piece of timber over the top of it. I saw a similar state of affairs where basically two sides of the living room had fallen away."
He said landlords were often increasing rents without doing any improvements to the buildings after the earthquakes.
Mr Flavell said the Māori Party wanted the warrant of fitness on all State-owned houses extended to include all private rentals.