Apparently some moteliers have sold out to purchasers happy to accommodate the need for emergency housing. They charge way over the normal asking price per unit and seem prepared to operate this new 'model'. I've heard multiple reports of damage and trouble associated with some WINZ occupants (and it can't be pleasant for other WINZ occupants having to live amongst it either).
Regardless, the practise and cost to the taxpayer is ballooning. In the last September quarter it was reported at $83 million - up from $9 million three years ago.
The following recent post from a motel owner seems to suggest the conclusion I had arrived at - that the government would do better to buy these motels outright and modify or rebuild - is already afoot. Although asking prices will be inflated it is better the taxpayer gets stung once rather than repeatedly and indefinitely. And under three more years of Labour more state housing of one form or another is a given.
Anyway lest I be accused of 'beneficiary bashing' yet again, here is the owner of Tongariro River Motel's experience and explanation for why he will no longer accept WINZ clients:
TRM continue to receive regular requests for emergency accommodation from WINZ/MSD-type “clients”. They are easily recognised when they request two or three weeks and never ask the $ room rate! TRM have recently been questioned for refusing their applications with criticism – accused of being selfishly selective – which deserves response.
TRM are targeted as it has older style low density with larger family units offering more spacious living accommodation. Every unit has under cover parking and fully equipped kitchens with full sized ovens, fridge freezer units, microwaves, etc. particularly to cater for fishos wanting to stay several weeks every year. Many of them from across the ditch are missing in action this season so the continual requests to provide “emergency housing” have continued.
It is understandable or simple economics in other motels which have been left struggling to survive with the lack of tourist traffic. When MSD clients need emergency housing they cannot afford not to open their doors. The “clients” are allowed to choose the motel which suits them best.
TRM’s first WINZ client last year booked a studio through the iSite for one week. As it was quiet at the time the room rate was reduced by 20% and she was upgraded into a larger one bedroom unit. After booking in, the rest of her whanau moved in with two large guard dogs for the rest of the week. It was a disaster.
When we visited the local WINZ office to request their help to remove them they denied any responsibility claiming the guest had booked through the iSite. When their culpability was questioned they called their security guards and I was “escorted” off the premises. Unbelievable!
During the difficult covid lockdown period TRM remained open and reluctantly accepted two other desperate cases. Both had unfortunate issues which were incompatible with other fishy guests, who advised they would not return if TRM was going to accommodate these emergency guests. We had to agree with them. After property damage and thefts they were both forced to leave anyway.
So for an obviously selfish reason TRM have continued their “no-WINZ” clients policy. We trust you can understand why. It is hard to believe how other motels persevere with them at all. In Taupo and Rotorua we know of massive motel price hikes to compensate for the anticipated damage and trouble, but that is not our style. TRM management and inmates prefer the motel to be half empty to enjoy the jovial considerate company of anglers instead. It is such a cruel world out there.
3 comments:
Lindsay,
There used to be a very good blog called "Motella". This was a mixture of motel and political posts. I remember a posting he made once about avoiding long term/WINZ bookings at all costs. He said as soon as you went down this route you would start to lose your normal clientele. Looks like a lesson that TRM have learnt and put a stop to fairly quickly.
Given the massive extent of motel uptake many owners/operators will have had to make similar decisions. Not easy, especially this year.
I recently had occasion to stay at a well sited motel in Napier, situated on the shores of Ahuriri.
The units were not inexpensive and over the course ov several days, travellers came and went in their relatively modern vehicles.
Some 3 days or so into our stay, an older model Japanese car arrived. It looked as if it had rolled down the side of Te Mata peak, but closer examination indicated that it had merely been panelbeaten from front to rear with the back side of an axe. Naturally the warrant and registration were expired.
The occupants were installed into a unit not far from ours, and for the next couple of days until our departure, we were treated to heavy bass music, occasional loud vocal abuse by the synthetic leather clad single mother toward her two children of some 11 or 12 years, and absolutely appalling language shouted from the children in return.
I have to say that no abuse was tendered toward us, or to any others to my knowledge, but I am certainly in no rush to return to this establishment for our next visit to family.......
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