Inadequate heaters leave state house tenants cold

State house tenants are resorting to bubble-wrapping windows and using ovens to heat their homes because they say the panel heaters installed by the landlord simply aren't suitable. Housing New Zealand tenant Karina Tipene, has lived with her extended family in a five bedroom house in Pakuranga for three years. When she moved in, the house had both a fire-place and an electric heater, but the fireplace was removed soon after. She told RNZ reporter Eva Corlett that she eventually stopped using the panel heater all together. The manufacturer told RNZ it has had only a handful of complaints despite supplying 15,000 heaters a year to Housing New Zealand and other agencies.