Act Party leader and Epsom MP David Seymour has been accused of fuelling prejudice after he sent a letter to constituents warning that tenants in a new housing development could have mental health issues.
Seymour stands by the letter, saying that the social housing development had a history of anti-social behaviour and he was "telling it like is".
Housing New Zealand (HNZ) has applied to the Auckland Council to replace a rundown residential building with a five-storey, 25-unit complex on Banff Ave, Epsom.
In a letter to residents, Seymour invited them to voice their concerns at a public meeting and said the development would put pressure on local infrastructure.
He added: "There is also a chance that some of the future residents will have social and mental health issues who will need to have special support measures in place."
The public meeting on Thursday was a fiery affair, and Seymour was forced to step in after residents became furious at HNZ officials.
Housing Minister Phil Twyford said Seymour's letter was "appalling".
"David Seymour is fuelling people's worst prejudices," he said.
Twyford said the Epsom MP was scaremongering by using such language in his invitation to residents.
He said one in six people in New Zealand had been diagnosed with a common mental disorder at some time in their lives, and it was irresponsible for an MP to stigmatise them.
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