Residents in Auckland say more than 30 empty Kainga Ora homes on O’Donnell Avenue have become a site for illegal dumping and have left the surrounding area feeling abandoned. Both outlets report that community members describe the properties as “ghost homes,” including claims that they are being “left to rot” after government plans are said to have stalled. Residents say they have observed rubbish and waste being dumped around the unused houses, raising concerns about public health, cleanliness, and safety for nearby residents. The complaints focus on the visibility of the empty homes and the lack of timely resolution, with residents saying the situation makes them feel the area is no longer being properly managed. The reports frame the issue as a community concern linked to the ongoing vacancy of the properties, with illegal dumping described as a direct consequence residents associate with the houses standing empty. Neither account in the provided excerpts includes a detailed response from Kainga Ora or the government about timelines or remediation measures.