What's the whole story on housing squalor?

National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley is challenging Maryan Street to say she is certain that Housing New Zealand is not referring vulnerable New Zealanders to 'squalid' South Auckland accommodation.

"Separate media reports confirm Housing New Zealand has been referring vulnerable people to 'squalid' facilities in South Auckland. But the Minister denies this.

"Who should New Zealanders believe - the residents who're living in 'rat infested' conditions, or a Minister engaged in damage control?

"Surely, it can't be a coincidence that those who've complained publicly suddenly appear to have been miraculously put in Housing New Zealand properties."

The Minister said this week 'they haven't been advised to go to Kotuku Lodge … they are not advised to go there'.

"But I understand the Minister cannot know that for sure, because there is no paperwork or any record kept of which private housing providers people were referred to.

"Maryan Street needs to clarify her public denials.

"If Housing New Zealand did not know these people were living there, how were they able to contact them and offer them alternative HNZ accommodation?"