Tenant complains after asbestos spread by water-blaster

A Christchurch mother is demanding Housing New Zealand (HNZ) move her and her eight children to a new house, after asbestos was spread over the property by a contractor water-blasting her roof.

Karen Dwight said she was appalled by the lack of communication from the government agency and the length of time it had taken to get the asbestos cleaned up, after the roof of the Hoon Hay property was water-blasted on Wednesday.

"I'm already on the urgent list to be moved," she said. "But I want it pushed forward so I can get out of here.

"I can't live here any more, I could never comfortably do the gardens again knowing what's happened -- I feel that's the least they can do."

The asbestos was cleaned up yesterday and HNZ said it would talk to Dwight next week about her accommodation.

Dwight said she had called in the Christchurch City Council after the work by the HNZ contractor.

Council environmental effects team leader Klaus Prusas said it was unfortunate the contractor had not realised the material he was working with was asbestos.

Dwight said she had heard nothing from HNZ.

"I'm disappointed not one person from Housing New Zealand has come to apologise or explain or try to put it right.

"We couldn't sleep the first night because we didn't know what was happening. All my kids have been exposed to it."

Housing New Zealand acting regional manager Bob Hardie said an "appropriate" clean-up had been organised, and both the council and Occupational Safety and Health had advised there was now "minimal risk" to the occupant.

"However, Housing New Zealand is aware that this incident is concerning for the tenant, and we will be talking to her further about it next week," he said.

Dwight, who has 14 children, with eight living at home ranging from age one to 15, has lived in the five-bedroom house for four years.

- © Fairfax NZ News