You're kidding, right?

We almost fell off the chair when we read this paragraph in this morning's Herald:

Housing NZ is breaching the Bill of Rights by trying to evict tenants with gang connections from units in Lower Hutt suburb Pomare, a top lawyer says.

What bollocks. What complete, unadulterated crap, if you'll pardon the expression. Farmer Terrace has become the domain of the Mongrel Mob, which just in case the "top lawyer" isn't aware, is a criminal gang. It's a criminal gang with a violent history, and like other such gangs, it uses intimidation and standover tactics to get what the members want. And that's exactly what's gone on in Farmer Crescent - read on:

In March, the corporation served 90-day notices on Billy Taylor, Robyn Winther, Huia Tamaka and two others after neighbours in their state housing area complained about intimidation, threats and burglary.

Police arrested and charged several Mongrel Mob members as a result of investigations, some of whom were partners of the tenants in question.

Two of those served with notices have vacated their units, but three remain and are refusing to respond to requests to move out.

Hence the hearing before the Tenancy Tribunal. This case shows just how distorted our society has become. These cowardly gangsters now hide behind the skirts of their partners to try and keep "their" homes. Except they forget one thing. The homes in Farmer Crescent are NOT "their" homes - they actually belong to you and to us - the taxpayer. And surely, the fundamental right is that Housing New Zealand has the right to choose its tenants based on their ability comply with the law and with HNZ's policies.

And here's the gist of the tenants' argument, as articulated by their counsel, Robert Lithgow QC (who's paying HIS bill, we wonder?):

"These three women have been given notices because they are de facto partners of people Housing New Zealand does not want around," Mr Lithgow said.

He said the corporation had an agenda to "sanitise" Pomare of gang members and the Mongrel Mob was the target.

It was no different from discriminating against gay people, Nazi Party members or Scientologists.

Guess what. Lithgow QC is probably right about HNZ's intention to "sanitise" the Pomare area, and we reckon all power to them! Anything that can be done to depower the gangs gets the big tick from us.