‘Disgraceful’: Military personnel living in damp, mould-infested barracks in Auckland

Tuesday, 30 July 2024

Military personnel living in damp, mould-infested barracks

Army personnel at Papakura Military Camp are having to live in damp, mould-infested buildings.

Toxic black mould was found in two of the barrack blocks last week.

All occupants of the affected barracks were relocated into another accommodation block, a NZDF spokesperson said.

Damp and mouldy carpets, rotting chipboard floor and poor insulation are some of the conditions army personnel at an Auckland military camp are living in.

Toxic black mould was found in two of the barrack blocks at the New Zealand Defence Force’s Papakura Military Camp last week.

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NZDF said they relocated all occupants of the affected barracks into another accommodation block. Other buildings were being evacuated.

“Earlier this month a testing was carried out at four of the five regular force barrack buildings after concerns were raised about the potential for mould to be present,” a NZDF spokesperson said.

Papatoetoe primary principal Caroline Chawke is still waiting for Ministry assistance to repair or replace a specialist classroom after it was discovered to be riddled in toxic black mould.

“Test results have confirmed that Stachybotrys is present in two of the barrack blocks, and some other types of mould were also discovered in another barrack building.

“Immediate actions have been taken to relocate all occupants of the affected barracks into another accommodation block.

“The other affected building is also being evaluated for its suitability to house personnel and a decision will be made shortly whether those occupants will also be relocated.”

Stachybotrys, or black mould, is a greenish-black mould associated with a range of health problems.

The NZDF spokesperson said the closure of the barracks, which were built in the 1970s, resulted in a shortage of accommodation at the camp.

“The shortage is being managed within existing accommodation until new barracks are available, and it does not impact the New Zealand Army’s capability.”

Associate Defence Minister Chris Penk said he visited bases throughout the country and witnessed first hand the deteriorated living conditions, including the black mould at Papakura Military Camp, “which I saw only last week”.

Associate Defence Minister Chris Penk, who visited Papakura Military Camp last week, took to social media to share photos of black mould lurking over carpets at the camp.

“For a number of years, the defence estate has suffered from underinvestment and the government makes no bones about the fact that significant work is required to bring its infrastructure and estate up to modern standards,” Penk told Stuff.

“People are the core of the NZDF’s capability, and the current conditions are not providing an environment that supports Defence personal to do their job.

“Extensive work is required across the estate and the additional $571 million allocated to defence pay and projects in Budget 24 signals the government’s commitment to addressing the underinvestment, but we know that it isn’t a panacea, and more investment is required.”

Toxic black mould was found in two of the barrack blocks at the New Zealand Defence Force Papakura Military Camp last week.

Penk took to social media to post a few photos of mould at the Papakura camp.

More than 60 people commented on the minister’s post criticising the government.

“Disgraceful. Our folks should have great facilities. We wonder why it’s hard to recruit and keep people. People in state housing get better housing,” a comment states.

“If I was young person considering a career in the NZDF and saw this, I would likely think, yeah-nah,” another comment states.

Further tests that are underway to determine the extent of the contamination in the affected buildings at Papakura Military Camp.