An elderly pensioner has been toiling away at her garden plot for the last decade, but Housing New Zealand says the fruits of her labour may soon be gone under tenancy rules.
The battle between Mrs Han and the housing corporation began last month after Housing New Zealand told the pensioner the garden stakes used to support her backyard crops are banned.
The tenancy manager demanded their removal.
Mrs Han's son-in-law, Simon Mann, says the garden's bamboo supports have not been an issue in the past.
"They're calling it a structure, and it's what holds up the vegetable garden, so if she takes it down, everything's just going to fall over," Mr Mann says.
Mrs Han's daughter-in-law says the pensioner finds joy in simply working in her backyard.
"She's got sore legs and a sore back. She can't work outside too far so she's happy to stay at home and look after her garden," she says.
The garden was started by Mrs Han's late husband.
None of the bamboo supports are connected the house, and all the stakes are taken down after the harvest.
In a statement, Housing New Zealand told 1NEWS the "super structure" was unsafe and inappropriate.
The housing agency says it's comfortable with some low-level poles to support the plants but the tenant must ask for permission beforehand.
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