The Government will begin paying compensation to Housing New Zealand tenants wrongfully kicked out of their home over methamphetamine testing, with an average payout of $8000 for household goods destroyed or damaged.
But many of those 55 tenants just want a new home.
Truck driver Tony Matkovich lives in a tiny motel room in Papatoetoe with his two teenage sons. The solo dad remembers happier times when he and his boys lived in a Housing New Zealand home in Mangere.
"I was at work, they were at school, everything was just normal," he told Newshub.
In 2016 the family was one of 800 wrongfully evicted following botched meth testing by Housing NZ.
"[We] lost our life, our routine, our structured life."
They also lost everything in their house. For that loss, the Government has offered Mr Matkovich about $6000 in compensation.
"I needed a house, that's what I wanted first," he says. "I even told them I wanted a house first, not compensation."
Two months ago, he was given emergency accommodation at a motel so he could be reunited with his boys.
He says he can't wait any longer for a stable home from Housing NZ, and has accepted the money so he can rent privately.
"They're just trying to give themselves a pat on the back for nothing."
Dianne Reville says she's been homeless for two years after being kicked out over meth testing. She's accepted $13,000 from the Government, but says what she really wants is a home.
"I want the home more than anything, because I want my daughter back."
Housing Minister Phil Twyford says the Government will try to house eligible tenants.
"If they're still eligible for public housing under the normal criteria, then Housing NZ will give them priority and try and ensure they get housed."
The Ministry for Social Development, however, told Newshub there is no special treatment for those who were evicted under the flawed testing regime.
Of the 800 eligible for compensation, 55 will be paid from Monday. Compensation for 92 others has been approved, but Housing NZ is still trying to contact the vast majority - more than 500 people.
- Dodgy meth test policy an excuse to 'ridicule' state housing tenants
- State houses needlessly emptied where meth previously smoked - report
- Up to 1500 children evicted by Housing NZ due to flawed meth testing policy
Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP) says some of the 500 can't be reached because they're homeless.
"The compensation is a start, but if the compensation is truly intended to be used to buy household items that they lost during the eviction, they can't do this if they don't have a home to live in," says AAAP coordinator Ricardo Menendez.
Housing NZ has confirmed 70 people have been re-housed since May, and hopes to be able to house more as they find them.
This story was amended on December 5 to correct the error reporting Tony Matkovich as John.
Newshub.
