AUCKLAND, New Zealand — A mother says she is being forced to move into a private rental after a violent alleged assault by neighbours at a Kāinga Ora property left her seriously injured and fearing for her family’s safety.
CCTV footage obtained by local media captured the confrontation, which occurred on April 29 at a public housing property in Auckland. The woman, whose identity has been withheld, says she intervened to protect her teenage son and was subsequently attacked by multiple people.
CCTV Captures Violent Incident
According to the woman, tensions escalated after neighbours who had allegedly been partying for an extended period threatened her teenage son, who was living in a cabin on the property.
“I heard the neighbours say they were going to kick the kid in the cabin,” she said.
Security footage reportedly shows the woman confronting the group before a physical altercation broke out.
The woman alleges she was dragged, kicked, stomped on and assaulted by multiple people during the incident.
She said the attack left her with significant injuries, including facial fractures, eye injuries, extensive bruising and damage that required part of her hair to be cut off.
“It was about six minutes before police arrived,” she said.
Six People Facing Charges
Police attended the scene and subsequently charged six people in connection with the incident.
Authorities confirmed the accused are scheduled to appear in court next week on a range of charges, including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The case remains before the courts.
Frustration With Housing Agency
The woman says she repeatedly sought assistance from Kāinga Ora, claiming she no longer felt safe living at the property and had requested a transfer to another home.
However, Kāinga Ora stated that the woman is not the official tenant or a listed member of the household.
According to the agency, the tenancy remains in the name of her former partner.
The woman acknowledges she is not the listed tenant but says she made multiple attempts to formally join the tenancy and seek alternative housing for her family.
She argues that her safety concerns were not adequately addressed despite providing documentation related to the incident.
Social Housing Debate Renewed
The case has renewed debate around antisocial behaviour in public housing communities.
Kāinga Ora said it is aware of the incident and is considering what action may be available under the Residential Tenancies Act.
Government data shows a significant increase in tenancy terminations related to disruptive behaviour in recent years. While only three tenancies were terminated for antisocial conduct in 2023, that number rose to 69 during the financial year ending March 2025.
Housing advocate Vanessa Cole said antisocial behaviour remains a serious concern for residents but warned that simply evicting tenants does not address underlying social issues.
She noted that many social housing tenants are already facing significant financial pressures amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Family Preparing to Move
Despite the pending court proceedings, the woman says she does not feel safe remaining in the neighbourhood because some of the accused individuals are believed to still live nearby.
As a result, she and her family plan to move into a private rental property.
“I want us to come home to a home, not somewhere where we’re scared,” she said.
The move marks the end of a difficult chapter for the family, but the woman says questions remain about how public housing providers respond when residents report serious safety concerns.
