This week Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka spoke in an interview about the potential effect of changes to emergency housing on the rising number of homeless people in New Zealand.

While he proudly announced that the Government had met its target to reduce emergency housing numbers by 75%, he acknowledged that ‘many’ have reported the effect of government policies on increased numbers of people rough sleeping. 

Especially in Auckland, observations and reports of homelessness have increased substantially, with community leaders and Auckland council urging the government to deliver a more effective policy response to alleviating the issue. 

While Potaka was not willing to admit that government policies have been a main contributor to rising homelessness, there has been a clear public callout for meaningful change from the central government