The Housing Dashboard

Data changes and revisions

From time-to-time data is revised as new information becomes available. Details of these changes can be found in this document.

Non-standard changes and revisions to the Housing Dashboard (XLSX, 39 KB)

Data caveats

Each month the latest three months of Housing First and Rapid Rehousing data will be revised to capture delayed reporting and improve data quality.

Data confidentiality

For the data featured on the housing dashboard, several methods are used to help ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the information. This includes random rounding and suppression. 

Due to the confidentiality measures used, figures featured on the housing dashboard may differ slightly from figures featured in other sources, such as the information available on the Ministry of Social Development website.

Read more about how MSD keeps data private(external link)

Read more about data confidentiality principles and methods we use(external link)

Further information

Some metrics published on the housing dashboard are sourced from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), including social housing register, emergency housing, Accommodation Supplement, and Temporary Additional Support figures. For any comments, queries, or requests regarding these series, either approach MSD directly, or contact us to facilitate.

For more information, please contact media@hud.govt.nz.

Social housing

Social homes are properties that have been approved to attract an Income-related rent subsidy (IRRS)(external link). Tenancies in these properties are managed by either Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities (Kāinga Ora) or by registered community housing providers.

The properties themselves may be owned or leased by Kāinga Ora, the community housing provider or by another owner, such as district council, iwi or other organisation. In some instances, Kāinga Ora may own a property, but a community housing provider manages the tenancy for that property. In these instances, those properties are considered community housing provider social homes.

Tenants in social homes may:

• receive an income-related rent subsidy, where a tenant pays no more than 25 percent of their net income in rent
• pay market rent.

Read more about Income-related rent subsidy(external link)

Kāinga Ora social homes include social homes managed by Kāinga Ora that are occupied by tenants and those that are vacant.

Community housing provider social homes include social homes managed by registered community housing providers that are occupied by tenants. They do not include those that are vacant.

Social housing stock summary

This section provides a snapshot of the total number of properties that are considered social homes as at the end of the selected month. The number of social homes is broken down by whether it is a property with a tenancy managed by Kāinga Ora or by a community housing provider. This section also shows the difference in the total amount of social housing stock between the two time periods selected.

This section includes the following metrics:

• Total social housing stock – considers the total number of social housing properties that are tenanted or vacant as at the end of the selected month. It combines the social housing owned or leased by both Kāinga Ora and community housing providers.
• Kāinga Ora social housing stock – of the total number of social housing properties, considers the ones whose tenancies are currently being managed by Kāinga Ora as well as the properties owned or leased by Kāinga Ora and considered vacant.
• Community housing providers social housing stock – of the total number of social housing properties, considers the ones whose tenancies are currently being managed by community housing providers. It does not include information on community housing provider properties that are currently vacant.
• The difference in total housing social stock – compares the total social housing stock as at the end of reporting months selected in the ‘Start Date’ and ‘End Date’ filters in the top right of the page.
• Total occupied homes – this metric refers to the number of social housing properties that are tenanted (that is, it excludes vacant social housing). This is split into those properties that are were attracting an Income Related Rent subsidy as at the end of the reporting month and those that were attracting a market rent rate.

Vacant social housing – These metrics outline the number of Kāinga Ora social housing properties that are considered vacant. A property is considered vacant if there is no reported tenancy as at the end of the selected reporting month. A Kāinga Ora social home can be vacant for a number of reasons, including:

• Staggered tenancy – A newly delivered home within a building of 30 units or greater that will take time to let. These homes are placed with tenants at a planned rate to deal with logistical constraints in the initial tenanting of high-density buildings.
• Being made available to let – Homes in this category include newly completed properties awaiting finalisation or part of larger projects, those in the process of being matched with suitable tenants, and homes undergoing minor repairs and upgrades to ensure safety and compliance with landlord obligations.
• Pending decision – Homes that are waiting for a decision on their best future use.
• Homes under refurbishment – Homes undergoing major repairs or retrofits to modernise properties, meet customer needs, optimise land use, and increase housing stock – while providing temporary accommodations for affected tenants.
• Redevelopment / disposal – Homes slated for redevelopment, undergoing active demolition, or being removed from the portfolio due to sales and lease expirations.

Delivery of social housing summary

This section considers the number of social homes added or removed from the overall stock of social housing across a particular period, such as across a month or the cumulative total across that period. Because social housing can be added or removed from the total stock, the figures presented are the net change across the period.

Delivery of social housing is broken down across time as well as by who will manage the tenancy of the property now it has been delivered. Further information is also provided on the source of the property that was delivered, such as whether it is a newly built property. For Kāinga Ora properties that are being removed, visibility of the reason for removal is also provided.

This section includes the following metrics:

• Total social housing delivery – considers the total amount of social housing properties delivered across the time period selected. This is broken down to show how much was delivered in each month across that time period, and the cumulative amount delivered each month across the time period.
• Social housing delivered by Kāinga Ora – of the total amount of social housing properties delivered across the period, how many will be managed by Kāinga Ora when tenanted.
• Social housing delivered by community housing providers – of the total amount of social housing properties delivered across the period, how many will be managed by community housing providers when tenanted.

Source of the delivered social housing property – This metric provides visibility of the general place in the housing market from where the property has been acquired for use as social housing. This includes:

• New builds – Properties that are newly built for the purpose of social housing.
• Redirects – Properties that community housing providers already managed but that previously did not attract an income related rent subsidy or properties that community housing providers lease from the private market.
• Buy-ins – Properties that Kāinga Ora have purchased from the private market that were previously been lived in.
• Leases – An existing or newly built home that is being leased for social housing purposes for the first time.
• Removed or adjusted stock (SLED) – This metric provides visibility over properties that were being used for social housing but have been removed from the total stock. This results in a reduction that must be offset against the addition of social housing stock to provide a net figure. Removed or adjusted stock applies only to Kāinga Ora homes, and they can be removed from stock for several reasons, including lease expiration, demolition, or sale. An adjustment is where a previously reported figure is corrected.
• Leased from Kāinga Ora to community housing providers – A property used for social housing may be owned by Kāinga Ora but have the tenancy managed by a community housing provider. In some instances, properties previously managed or delivered by Kāinga Ora are leased to a community housing provider. In these instances, the total stock and delivery totals for Kāinga Ora will reduce and increase for the community housing provider.

Other sections

Community housing providers

This section provides a more detailed breakdown of the total social housing stock currently being managed by specific community housing providers. These figures represent the number of active tenancies they are managing in their social housing stock as at the end of the selected reporting month.

It is important to note that these figures do not include social housing properties that are currently not tenanted, nor does it include other housing that community housing providers may own, lease or manage.

This information is only available from month ending January 2022.

Social housing lead tenants by ethnicity

This metric looks at the total number of social homes that were tenanted by households, where the lead tenant has nominated Māori as one of the ethnicities they identify with.

The data uses total response ethnicity (TRE) where the lead tenant can nominate multiple ethnicities and where they have done so, they are counted in each category. This means that the ethnicity percentages will not add to 100%.

For more information on Māori housing, see MAIHI Ka Ora, Ka Mārama. 

Transitional housing

Transitional housing provides temporary accommodation for individuals and whānau who don't have anywhere to live and urgently need a place to stay. It also offers tailored support to help these individuals and whānau into longer-term housing.

Transitional housing is measured in the number of places rather than the number of properties, as sometimes a single property can hold multiple transitional housing places. A transitional housing place combines both a physical space for a household to occupy as well as tailored support from a transitional housing provider.

Read more about transitional housing(external link)

Transitional housing contracted places

This section provides a snapshot of the number of transitional housing places that are actively contracted as at the end of the selected month. The number of transitional housing places is broken down over time and by the region the transitional housing place is located.

This section includes the following metrics:

• Number of contracted transitional housing places – considers the total number of transitional housing places that were contracted and available for use as at the end of the selected month.
• Net difference in transitional housing places – compares the total transitional housing places as at the end of the selected reporting months from the ‘Start Date’ and ‘End Date’ filters in the top right of the page. This is a net figure as across the time period. Transitional housing places may have been added, and some may have been removed where contracts have expired.

Emergency housing

Emergency housing is short-term accommodation for individuals who have an urgent need because they are unable to remain in their usual place of residence. Emergency housing is provisioned in one of two ways, through an Emergency Housing Grant (EH Grant) or a Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) referral.

Emergency Housing Grants are available to people who cannot remain in their usual residence, if any, and will not have access to other accommodation that is adequate for their family’s needs. Each grant provides up to 3 weeks accommodation, usually in a motel.

Contracted Emergency Housing began in June 2021 to improve the provision of emergency housing in Rotorua. This included contracting specific motels for the use of families with children, providing wraparound support, and establishment of a housing hub with local Iwi. Referrals into this programme ceased in June 2025 and the final households exited the programme in December 2025.

Emergency housing households summary

This section provides a snapshot of the number of households that were housed in emergency housing (including both those housed through an Emergency Housing Grant and those housed through Contracted Emergency Housing) as at the end of the selected month. The number of households in emergency housing is broken down over time, by the type of emergency housing, and by the region the emergency housing place is located.

This section includes the following metrics:

• Number of households in emergency housing – considers the total number of households in emergency housing as at the end of the selected month.
• Net difference in households in emergency housing – compares the total households in emergency housing as at the end of the selected reporting months from the ‘Start Date’ and ‘End Date’ filters in the top right of the page. This is a net figure as across the time period.

Emergency Housing Grants summary

This section considers the number of approved Emergency Housing Grants across a particular period, such as across a month or the cumulative total across that period. Because each Emergency Housing Grant provides at most three weeks accommodation, a client can receive multiple grants per month.

This section includes the following metrics:

• Total amount granted – The total monetary value of the Emergency Housing Grants paid across the selected month.
• Total number granted – considers the number of Emergency Housing Grants approved by the Ministry of Social Development across the selected month.
• Total distinct clients – This means that an Emergency Housing Grant client is counted only once in a time period, regardless of how many grants they have received.

Read more about emergency housing grants(external link)

Social Housing Register

When New Zealanders are in need of social housing, their needs are recorded on either the Housing Register or the Transfer Register. The combined register is referred to as the Social Housing Register.  The Social Housing Register is a list of all applicants eligible to be housed in social housing.

The Housing Register contains people with serious housing needs who are assessed and found eligible for social housing. The number of people on this register and their priority rating is subject to change, as people come on and off the register as their circumstances change.

The Transfer Register contains people who already live in social housing but have applied and are eligible to transfer to another property. Reasons for requesting a transfer may include health issues, or their current property being too small, too large, or in the wrong location.

Social Housing Register summary

This section provides a snapshot of the number of applicants on the Social Housing Register as at the end of the selected month. The number of applicants on the register is broken down over time, by the specific register they are on, the applicant’s priority rating, and by the region in which the applicant would prefer to be placed.

This section includes the following metrics:

• Total Social Housing Register applicants – considers the total number of applicants on the Social Housing Register as at the end of the selected month. It combines the applicants on both the housing and Transfer Registers.
• Housing Register applicants – of the total number of applicants on the Social Housing Register, considers Housing Register applicants only. The Housing Register includes applicants not currently in social housing who have been assessed as eligible, and who are ready to be matched to a suitable home.
• Transfer Register applicants – of the total number of applicants on the Social Housing Register, considers Transfer Register applicants only. The Transfer Register includes households already in social housing who need to be rehoused for reasons such as too few or too many bedrooms, or for health reasons.
• The difference in total Social Housing Register applicants – compares the total applicants on the Social Housing Register as at the end of reporting months selected in the ‘Start Date’ and ‘End Date’ filters in the top right of the page.

Priority of applicants on the Social Housing Register – These metrics outline the number of applicants on the Social Housing Register by their current priority rating. Each applicant is given a priority rating based on the Ministry of Social Development’s latest assessment of housing need. An applicant’s priority can change over time. Applicants are placed on the register if their priority is one of the following:

• Priority A – applicants who are considered at risk and includes households with a severe and persistent housing need that must be addressed immediately.
• Priority B – applicants who have a serious housing need and includes households with a significant and persistent need.

Applicants housed summary

This section considers the number of applicants housed from the Social Housing Register across a particular period, such as across a month or the cumulative total across that period. This is broken down by the register they were housed from, the priority of their application, and the type of provider managing the social housing place they were housed in – Kāinga Ora or a community housing provider.

This section includes the following metrics:

• Total applicants housed – considers the total number of applicants housed from the Social Housing Register across the selected month. Applications are considered housed when the application register status is changed to “active tenancy”. 
• Median days to house - the median number of calendar days between the date an application is first confirmed on the Social Housing Register and the date a tenancy is activated for that applicant.

Register entries and exits summary

This section considers the flows on and off the Social Housing Register in the form of Social Housing Register entries and exits across a particular period, such as across a month or the cumulative total across that period. The number of applicants entering or exiting the register is broken down over time, by the register they are joining or leaving, and the region in which the applicant had wanted to be housed.

This section includes the following metrics:

• Total register entries – considers the total number of applicants entering the Social Housing Register across the selected month. This metric includes priority A and B applicants only – those with a severe or serious housing need.
• Total register exits – considers the total number of applicants exiting the Social Housing Register for reasons other than being placed in social housing. This metric includes priority A and B applicants only – those with a severe or serious housing need.

Read more about the Housing Register on the Ministry of Social Development website(external link).

Other sections

Social Housing Register applicants by ethnicity

This metric looks at the total number of main applicants on the Social Housing Register, where the main applicant has nominated Māori as one of the ethnicities they identify with.

The data uses total response ethnicity (TRE) where the main applicant can nominate multiple ethnicities and where they have done so, they are counted in each category. This means that the ethnicity percentages will not add to 100%.

For more information on Māori housing, see MAIHI Ka Ora, Ka Mārama.

Housed from the Social Housing Register by ethnicity

This metric looks at the total number of applicants housed from the Social Housing Register, where the main applicant has nominated Māori as one of the ethnicities they identify with.

The data uses total response ethnicity (TRE) where the main applicant can nominate multiple ethnicities and where they have done so, they are counted in each category. This means that the ethnicity percentages will not add to 100%.

For more information on Māori housing, see MAIHI Ka Ora, Ka Mārama.

Supported housing

There are many programmes available in New Zealand to support people to enter and/or sustain long term secure housing. These schemes typically fall into three categories depending on their intended audience: first home buyers, people struggling in private housing, and people experiencing severe housing need and/or homelessness.

First home buyers

This section considers the total number of households who bought their first home across the selected month, and the number of homes purchased with a Kāinga Ora first home loan.

Kāinga Ora first home loans are issued by selected banks and other lenders and underwritten by Kāinga Ora, and unlike standard home loans, only require a 5 percent deposit. To be eligible for the scheme, the applicant must be a New Zealand citizen, a first home buyer, and have an income below a certain threshold.

Read more about the First Home Loan by Kāinga Ora(external link).

This section includes the following metrics:

• Number of homes bought with a Kāinga Ora first home loan – considers the total number of homes purchased with a Kāinga Ora first home loan across the selected month. This metric provides an indication of the number of first home buyers supported by the scheme into home ownership.
• Number of households who bought their first home – considers the total number of households who purchased their first home across the selected month with a home loan from a registered bank. This information is sourced from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand(external link).

Housing supports

This section considers the number of recipients of different monetary assistance schemes for people in private housing across a particular period, such as across a month or the cumulative total across that period. The number of recipients of financial aid is broken down over time, by the type of assistance or grant, and the region in which the recipient is living.

This section includes the following metrics:

• Number of Accommodation Supplement recipients – considers the total number of people receiving the Accommodation Supplement from MSD across the selected period. The Accommodation Supplement is a weekly payment to assist people who are not in social housing, with their rent, board, or the cost of owning a home.
• Number of Temporary Additional Support recipients – considers the total number of people receiving Temporary Additional Support from MSD across the selected period. Temporary Additional Support is a non-taxable supplementary assistance that is paid to help clients with their regular essential living costs that cannot be met from their usual income and other resources.
• Number of Housing Support Product recipients – considers the number of people receiving a Housing Support Product from MSD across the selected period. Housing Support Products are a range of products designed to assist people to achieve or sustain accommodation in the private housing.

Housing First

Housing First offers people immediate access to housing and then wraps around tailored support for as long as needed, to help people remain housed, and address the issues that led to their homelessness.

Each month the latest three months of Housing First data will be revised to capture delayed reporting and improve data quality.

This section includes the following metrics:

• Households in service in the programme – considers the total number of households that are currently engaged and supported by the Housing First providers.
• Households currently housed by the programme – considers the total number of households that are currently housed and continue to be engaged and receive support from the Housing First providers.

Find out more about housing first

Rapid Rehousing

Rapid rehousing helps individuals and whānau quickly exit homelessness and get back into permanent housing. Once they’re back in stable housing, it also provides support to help them maintain their tenancies and avoid a return to homelessness.

Each month the latest three months of Rapid Rehousing data will be revised to capture delayed reporting and improve data quality.

This section includes the following metrics:

• Households in service in the programme – considers the total number of households that are currently engaged and supported by the Rapid Rehousing providers.
• Households currently housed by the programme – considers the total number of households that are currently housed and continue to be engaged and receive support from the Rapid Rehousing providers.

Find out more about rapid rehousing

Sustaining Tenancies

Sustaining Tenancies provides funding for community-based providers to support households who are in social or private housing and need help to sustain their tenancy.

This section includes the following metrics:

• Households in service in the programme – considers the number of households that are currently engaged and supported by the Sustaining Tenancies providers.

Find out more about sustaining tenancies

Key statistics by territorial authority

On this page you can find key statistics from other pages of the dashboard broken down by territorial authority.

New Zealand has 67 territorial authorities, which are made up by city and district councils. This information includes unitary authorities (Gisborne, Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson City) which combine regional and local councils into one organisation.

Due to the granular nature of the data and to avoid publishing identifiable information, some metrics have been suppressed. Where this is the case, the value has been replaced with an “S”.

For more information on data confidentiality and how it applies to this dashboard, see the “Data confidentiality” section of this glossary.

Social housing

This section includes the following metrics:

• Total social housing stock – considers the total number of social housing properties that are tenanted or vacant as at the end of the selected month. It combines the social housing owned or leased by both Kāinga Ora and community housing providers.

For further information on social housing and the metrics above, see the “Social housing” section of this glossary.

Transitional housing

This section includes the following metrics:

• Number of contracted transitional housing places – considers the total number of transitional housing places that were contracted and available for use as at the end of the selected month.

For further information on transitional housing and the metrics above, see the “Transitional housing” section of this glossary.

Social Housing Register

This section includes the following metrics:

• Total Social Housing Register applicants – considers the total number of applicants on the Social Housing Register as at the end of the selected month. It combines the applicants on both the housing and Transfer Registers.

For further information on the Social Housing Register and the metrics above, see the “Social Housing Register” section of this glossary.

Emergency housing

This section includes the following metrics:

• Total distinct clients – This means that an Emergency Housing Grant client is counted only once in a time period, regardless of how many grants they have received.
• Total grants approved – considers the number of Emergency Housing Grants approved by MSD across the selected month. This is the same metric as ‘total number granted’ on the emergency housing page.
• Total amount granted – The total monetary value of the Emergency Housing Grants paid across the selected month.

For further information on emergency housing and the metrics above, see the “Emergency housing” section of this glossary.