A brief visit to a Tauranga community hit by housing woes proved an eye-opener for Labour Party leader Andrew Little, as he attempts to apply pressure on the government to address 'fundamental” housing issues.

As part of his whirlwind stop in the city, Andrew sat down with Merivale community members to discuss issues surrounding Tauranga's housing crisis, including the lack of affordable houses, increasing homelessness, spiralling rents and the rental shortage.

Labour Party leader Andrew Little at the Merivale Community Centre. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

During the meeting, residents spoke to Little about what the problems they are facing, including Te Tawharau o te Ora founder and manager Kellie Kioa.

Registered since 2012, the organisation caters for emergency housing in Tauranga, despite the government providing no funding.

During a tearful speech to Andrew, Kellie presented a document filled with anonymous stories relating to individual housing woes in the community, including someone who is living in a woodshed.

'I am currently living in a woodshed at my nans with my two kids. My ex took off with someone else and left me with the kids and nothing,” reads the comment.

'I've been here since November but now it's getting cold and I think I need help.”

Another said there is a family with four children, aged 9, 6, 4, and 1, who are living out of their car in a park after being evicted three weeks ago. Countless attempts to address the situation with Work and Income New Zealand and Housing New Zealand have failed.

Kellie says it is brilliant to be able to get their messages off their chest in what is hopefully the first step towards change and better housing opportunities.

According to a 2013 census, 30.5 per cent of those living in rented Merivale properties are Housing New Zealand tenants – more than three times the national average of 12.5 per cent and Tauranga's 7.5 per cent.

In addition, 19.2 per cent of households have a total household income of less than $20,000. The average household income in Merivale is $36,600, while 77.5 per cent of households in Merivale have the state as a source of income.

Speaking to SunLive after the event, Andrew says it was a very hard hitting meeting highlighting just how concerned and wound up people are.

'It's really touching people,” he admits, 'and these are the people working with those that are victims in the housing market.

'Housing is one of the fundamental basic things, because if you don't have basic housing, your life is a mess and you can't organise yourself. Housing is one of those fundamental things we need to get right.”

Andrew Little (left) meets members of the Merivale community.

But Little insisted it was a beneficial meeting, and he left with a bundle of stories and facts to help apply pressure to Prime Minster John Key and the government.

'There needs to be some change and movement made, and as the opposition, the only way to achieve this is through real life stories – such as the ones in Merivale - that people are going through,” he adds.

Andrew says the government must take action on property speculators who are damaging the housing market and shutting families and young people out of the home ownership dream.

'There are a number of options the government could take to prevent property speculators building up large housing portfolios and pushing up house prices,” he says.

'At the moment, first home buyers or those who want a rental property for retirement are being shut out of the market by lending restrictions that should be targeted at property speculators who sometimes own 10 to 20 houses and sit on them.”

One solution he proposes is focussing loan-to-value ratios on Auckland speculators, rather than on the regions, families or first time buyers.

Another would be those buying multiple properties needing a higher level of equity for subsequent purchases.

'It's very good for him to take onboard the stories and make the right noises if that's all he can do,” says Merivale Community Centre general manager Rachel Palmer. 'And if he's shouting really loud that's fantastic!”

In a last minute reshuffle, Andrew met with Merivale community members in the morning after a funeral service was being held for Merivale's respected kuia Margaret Mankelow.

Margaret, who passed away at home on Sunday, has lived in Merivale for more than 50 years and was a volunteer at the Merivale Community Centre where she provided advice and ideas.

A post on the community centre's Facebook page reads: 'Nan was an inspiration to all those belonging to the Merivale community.”

'Nan loved to talk and because of her long history in the community, knew everyone and had much to share. Nan always told it like it was. A light went out in ‘The Vale' on Sunday morning.”

Her service was held at the Pyes Pa Crematorium Chapel at 2pm.