Hi John,

On Sunday, a 1News poll showed nearly half of Kiwis think homelessness is getting worse.

In Rotorua, a pregnant woman sleeps in the doorway of The Salvation Army base. In Christchurch, a family with a baby is living in a tent in a central city park.

The Wellington City Mission says this is the worst they have seen things in living memory.

These stories are awful, but they aren’t surprising. Last November, we said that National’s choices would cause homelessness to increase, and they have.

They made promises, which haven’t been kept:

• The promise: Build so many houses there is no social housing waitlist.
• The reality: No increase to the number of Kāinga Ora social houses.

• The promise: Build more social houses than the Labour Government.
• The reality: Just 750 community housing places promised in 2026 and 2027.

• The promise: 1000 more state houses for Auckland every year.
• The reality: By June next year there will be 199 fewer state houses in Auckland

What National did instead:

Spent $2.9 billion on a tax break for landlords

Handed $216 million to tobacco companies

Stopped families getting into emergency housing

Cut $1.5 billion from public house funds

Cut $40 million from Māori housing providers

 Cut $20 million from youth transitional housing

It’s no wonder the number of people experiencing homelessness is on the rise when Ministers won’t keep their word.

When homelessness goes up the whole country suffers – there is more demand on health services, people are forced into unsafe situations, and kids struggle to learn in school.

National Ministers stood in front of Kiwis and made promises they don’t plan to keep. They must be held responsible for that. 

We will keep the pressure on them in the House. Help us raise awareness outside yours by sharing this email with friends and family.

Thank you for your support,

Kieran McAnulty
Spokesperson for Housing
www.labour.org.nz