What we do
We shape the direction and work programmes for housing and urban development in Aotearoa New Zealand. We're working to make significant, long-term change, while also helping people and communities with their immediate needs.
Setting the strategic direction
We’ve created a long-term plan for housing and urban development, through the Government Policy Statement on Housing and Urban Development (GPS-HUD) and MAIHI Ka Ora – the National Māori Housing Strategy. Together they provide a shared vision and direction for housing in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Acts we administer
Below is a list of Acts we're responsible for or have a role in administering.
Housing Act 1955(external link)
Residential Tenancies Act 1986(external link)
Public and Community Housing Management Act 1992(external link) ( Parts 4 and 10 only)
Housing Assets Transfer Act 1993(external link)
Retirement Villages Act 2003(external link) ( except for section 87(1))
Unit Titles Act 2010(external link) (Except subpart 1 of Part 2 and subpart 1 of Part 4)
Riccarton Racecourse Development Enabling Act 2016(external link)
Point England Development Enabling Act 2017(external link)
Kāinga Ora-Homes and Communities Act 2019(external link)
Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act 2020(external link)
Urban Development Act 2020(external link)
Our ministers
We work with two ministers across the housing and urban development portfolios:
- Hon Chris Bishop, Minister of Housing
- Hon Tama Potaka, Associate Minister of Housing
Working with partners and stakeholders
Everything we do is based on partnership and collaboration, we can’t do it alone.
We partner and collaborate with critical groups across the housing and urban development system:
- iwi and Māori, who are best placed to deliver effective housing and urban solutions for Māori communities
- Community Housing Providers, who play an important role in delivering long-term, affordable housing, through rental, mixed-tenure or progressive home ownership solutions
- social sector organisation, which support government to prevent and respond to homelessness and provide community support services
- local government, which promotes the social, economic and environmental and cultural wellbeing of their communities now and into the future
- the private sector, which plays the largest role in funding, financing, designing, constructing, delivering and maintaining the built environment.
We work with other Ministries and government departments to make sure we’re working together across government in a coordinated way.
Corporate publications
Our annual reports, briefings to incoming Ministers and statements of strategic intentions give more information on our strategy, what we’re working on and how we’re tracking.
Annual reports
Our annual report outlines our progress each year and details our financial information.
View our annual reports(external link)
Briefings to incoming Ministers
We produce briefings to incoming Ministers (BIM) after a general election or a change in minister. The BIM provides an introduction to the housing and urban development portfolio and summarises key policy issues.
View our briefings to incoming ministers (external link)
Statement of strategic intentions
Our statement of strategic intentions outlines why housing and urban development matters to Aotearoa New Zealand. It summarises our strategic intentions and outlines our plans for organisational developments.