Lobby For Good

What would you do if the house next door caught fire and was still standing, structurally damaged, more than 15 years later?

- What if reports identified friable asbestos?
- What if parts of the building were considered unsafe?
- What if it overlooked the bedrooms where your children slept?

You would probably assume that once the council knew, someone would step in and make sure the danger was dealt with.

But what happens when the process becomes years of reports, notices, inspections, meetings, extensions and promises that something is “still being worked on”?

- At what point does process become delay?
- At what point does oversight become paperwork?
- And where does an ordinary New Zealander turn when every organisation can investigate, respond or make recommendations - but nobody seems able to force a timely solution?

People are often told they can take a council to court.
But is that really access to justice when doing so may cost more than most families could ever afford?

Our latest Substack looks at the story of 34 Kiteroa Street, the questions its 15-year history raises about local-government accountability, and what happens when the only effective remedy appears to belong to those with enough money, time and stamina to keep fighting.

The building has finally gone, but serious questions still remain.

Read the full story here: https://open.substack.com/pub/lobbyforgood/p/the-house-burned-the-system-kept

Have you ever found yourself going in circles with a council or public agency - passed between departments, given another reference number or told an answer was coming “soon”?

We want to hear what happened.
Because one complaint can be dismissed.
But when people begin joining the pieces, patterns become much harder to ignore.