Programme
Public housing plan
The Public Housing Plan (PHP) sets out the government’s public housing supply plans for 2021-2024. There’s a growing need for public housing in Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s a vital part of our social support system, providing individuals and whānau with a stable, affordable place to live.
About the PHP
The PHP focuses on building new public housing, with Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities (Kāinga Ora) leading the delivery. We’re also working with Community Housing Providers (CHPs), iwi and Māori and local government to deal with public housing shortages.
The PHP sets out the following expectations for 2021-2024:
- more collaboration between Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Kāinga Ora, iwi and Māori, CHPs, local government and the construction industry
- more public housing in regional centres and towns where housing demand is growing the fastest
- an increase in the number of new-build public housing and a progressive decrease in the proportion of private market homes that are leased for public housing
- target responses to different housing needs, especially for Māori, using Māori and Iwi Housing Innovation Framework for Action (MAIHI) and place-based approaches.
PHP focus areas
Although public housing will continue to be delivered throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, the PHP focuses on opportunities to build more public homes in communities that have severe housing shortages. It identifies nine focus areas which are facing high population growth and where the waiting list for public housing is growing exponentially:
- Far North – Te Taitokerau
- Hamilton – Kirikiriroa
- Tauranga
- Rotorua
- Gisborne – Tairāwhiti
- Napier – Ahuriri
- Hastings – Heretaunga
- Whanganui
- Palmerston North- Papaioea
Download factsheets about the focus areas
A MAIHI and place-based approach
The PHP takes a MAIHI and place-based approach.
MAIHI supports kaupapa Māori and whānau-centred approaches. This means partnering with iwi and Māori to deliver housing solutions for Māori, by Māori.
Our place-based approach to housing recognises that every community has its own housing and urban development opportunities and challenges, and solutions need to be tailored to suit those needs.
Read more about our place-based approach
Overview of current and planned public and transitional housing supply
|
2018 |
2020 |
2022 |
2024 |
Northland |
|
|
|
|
Public housing |
2,041 |
2,162 |
2,247 |
2,557 |
Transitional housing |
139 |
166 |
273 |
311 |
Auckland |
|
|
|
|
Public housing |
30,722 |
33,300 |
35,223 |
37,623 |
Transitional housing |
949 |
1,273 |
2,040 |
2,653 |
Bay of Plenty |
|
|
|
|
Public housing |
2,661 |
2,885 |
3,045 |
3,485 |
Transitional housing |
199 |
233 |
412 |
504 |
East Coast |
|
|
|
|
Public housing |
4,046 |
4,133 |
4,409 |
4,869 |
Transitional housing |
252 |
380 |
548 |
716 |
Waikato |
|
|
|
|
Public housing |
4,410 |
4,739 |
4,781 |
5,371 |
Transitional housing |
112 |
208 |
468 |
540 |
Central |
|
|
|
|
Public housing |
2,312 |
2,337 |
2,574 |
2,834 |
Transitional housing |
60 |
114 |
205 |
232 |
Taranaki |
|
|
|
|
Public housing |
1,271 |
1,254 |
1,326 |
1,426 |
Transitional housing |
19 |
25 |
56 |
60 |
Wellington |
|
|
|
|
Public housing |
8,565 |
8,864 |
9,429 |
10,009 |
Transitional housing |
209 |
323 |
534 |
615 |
West Coast/Tasman |
|
|
|
|
Public housing |
1,447 |
1,485 |
1,662 |
1,882 |
Transitional housing |
63 |
70 |
143 |
171 |
Canterbury |
|
|
|
|
Public housing |
7,534 |
8,246 |
8,289 |
8,739 |
Transitional housing |
272 |
342 |
546 |
637 |
Southern |
|
|
|
|
Public housing |
1,869 |
1,883 |
1,993 |
2,183 |
Transitional housing |
67 |
100 |
175 |
202 |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
Public housing |
67,228 |
71,319 |
75,278 |
81,278 |
Transitional housing |
2,341 |
3,234 |
5,400 |
6,641 |
Total public housing places for 2018 and 2020 don’t include 300 and 61 places where addresses were unable to be assigned a geocode and could not be allocated to a region. In previous reporting, these were included in the category other/unknown. These places have been carried through to the total public housing figures for 2022 and 2024.