‘I can’t breathe’: Woman living in leaky, mouldy Kāinga Ora house for three years
Monday, 24 March 2025
Hastings woman Keremia Jane Tairua says a “brand new” Kāinga Ora house she moved into three years ago turned out to be damp and mouldy.
Her GP told her wet walls and mould worsened her allergies.
Kāinga Ora said a leaky heat pump led to the recent leakage that was fixed the next day.
A Hastings woman says a “brand new” Kāinga Ora house she moved into three years ago turned out to be damp and mouldy.
Kāinga Ora tenant Keremia Jane Tairua, 56, said living in the state house in Parkvale for three years had worsened her health conditions.
“I can’t breathe. I am sneezing. I sleep sitting up. No antihistamines help,” she said.
“My GP is saying it’s definitely an allergy and wet walls and mould is exacerbating my allergy. My palms are red. I am losing my voice from this tickly cough.
“It’s just making me really nervous.”
Tairua moved into the three-bedroom house in 2021, but within a few months her son noticed water dripping into the carpet and walls.
“My son came into my room one day and said, ‘Mum, why is your carpet wet?’
“He noticed the walls were also wet. He pulled furniture away from the wall.
“He got some tape and started covering all the electrical outlets. He unplugged everything because the wall was dripping.
“Then they [Kāinga Ora] sent plumbers and checked all the tap fittings. It turns out that the lug nut that hooks up the water supply to the tap fittings [were] loose.”
Every tap fitting was loose and leaking in the house, she said.
Tairua said that about two years ago, a property manager visited to check mould which was growing down from behind the laminate in the bathroom.
“They sent a couple of people over to clean that mould, so they have acknowledged it exists, but they still have not replaced [bathroom fittings] or taken the laminate off.”
The mould in the house destroyed her daughter’s portrait, which was hanging on a wall.
She said her requests for mould and humidity checks in the house were not taken seriously.
“I rang them to ask about getting mould and humidity checks done urgently. A lady on the maintenance argued it was after hours. I said, put a job through for the day, but she said it wasn’t urgent.
“I am so angry and annoyed for not being taken seriously.”
On Monday, humidity and mould checks were done.
“The guys [contractors sent by Kāinga Ora] were good. They found mould in a wall. They also did a humidity check and it was found to be pretty high.”
Tairua, who lives in the house with two dogs, said Kāinga Ora refused to relocate her until the leak was fixed.
“When I asked about being relocated while repairs were under way, I was told that Kāinga Ora will not pay for it.”
Kāinga Ora’s regional director east North Island Naomi Whitewood apologised for the situation.
“We are sorry that Tairua has experienced distress due to a leaky heat pump and concerns that this has caused damp and mould.
“Kāinga Ora were advised on Sunday, March 2, that Tairua had a leaky heat pump. Our tradespeople visited Tairua four hours after the call was received. They were unable to repair the pump as they could not purchase the required part on a Sunday. The heat pump was repaired the next day.
“On March 10, Tairua asked for a mould report. Our tradespeople completed a mould assessment test yesterday [Monday] and a humidity test this [Tuesday] morning.
“The initial visit by our maintenance partner was to scope the work which would be needed. This has been followed up with the heat pump fixed earlier this week, and today work has been done on the bathroom fan.
“Work is also being done to vent the laundry fan externally to remove steam build-up from within the house, and minimise the potential for any mould to develop. With Tairua’s agreement, further work will be completed on Monday.”
Whitewood said Kāinga Ora’s maintenance partner undertook a thorough assessment of the property for mould in the middle of last year.
“No leaks or wet areas were found, and a thorough clean of the house for any mould was also completed,” she said.
“We acknowledge that when people have underlying health conditions, ensuring your home is warm and dry is always a priority. That is why we endeavour to respond to reports of leaks in our homes promptly.”