Tighter restrictions on emergency housing have been hailed as a game-changer by Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. Photo / Mark MitchellThe Government has challenged whether its emergency housing policies have contributed to rising homelessness. But it concedes it has no information on the living arrangements for about 20% of those who have moved out of emergency housing. Emergency housing is still available for people who meet the criteria and have nowhere else to go. It remains to be seen whether this has had an impact on the acceptance rate for emergency housing applications.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 07, 2026 22:24 UTC