#opinion Kāinga Ora Cuts to Cost Māori Whānau Generations of Wellbeing
By Claudette Hauiti | Radio Waatea
The recent decision by Kāinga Ora to scrap over 200 housing developments – nearly 3,500 homes – is being framed by government as a “critical step” toward financial sustainability. But this proposal is nothing more than false economy and a deferred cost crisis. It’s a significant social loss with deeply rooted impacts, especially for Māori whānau and tamariki Māori living in high-deprivation areas like South Auckland.
We all know that Māori make up a disproportionate share of those in public housing, on waitlists, and living in insecure or overcrowded accommodation. While Kāinga Ora claims this reset is about ensuring value for money, the real cost will be borne by the 1,200 -1,500 Māori households who will now miss out on safe, secure whare. This includes an estimated 2,500 tamariki Māori whose wellbeing, education, and long-term health outcomes will be directly impacted.
A kainga is more than a whare, the home is more than a shelter. It is a whare tūpuna - a place where whakapapa, culture, and collective identity are nurtured. It’s a place where tamariki dreams of great futures. A secure home is central to the hauora of tamariki, the mana of parents, and the strength of whānau. The removal of nearly 3,500 homes, many of which were intended for areas of high need, tears at the fabric of these whānau systems.
These are communities where the cost of living is high - in Tamaki Makaurau, a family of four needs around $9,280/month to live comfortably, while median incomes in South Auckland range between $34,700 (Māngere-Otahuhu) and $44,000 (Papakura). Many Māori in this region work long hours, often juggling multiple jobs.
Māori face systemic housing barriers affecting mortgage access, and discrimination in rental markets. High costs – like average rents in Tāmaki Makaurau of $3,623 and grocery bills nearing $2,300/month – stretch already thin budgets.
South Auckland has some of the highest child poverty and absenteeism rates in Aotearoa, with 30% of tamariki Māori experiencing food insecurity and only 48% attending school regularly. High rates of asthma and pneumonia lead to frequent hospitalisations and long waits for elective surgeries – conditions worsened by poor housing.
Tamariki Māori are already overrepresented in data tracking poor health and education outcomes. By halting housing builds, the government is prioritising short-term financial optics over long-term oranga. This undermines Te Tiriti commitments to active protection and equity.
Kāinga Ora’s reset might save $220 million, but the cost to the health, education, and wellbeing of Māori whānau will far exceed that. Evidence shows that every $1 invested in healthy housing returns up to $4 in social and economic benefits.
Kāinga Ora’s shift away from development and back to property management signals a withdrawal from addressing the housing crisis. This leaves Māori at the mercy of a private rental market that has long excluded them.
While the government projects a saving of $220 million from scrapping housing builds, Māori housing advocates warn this decision merely delays the consequences, compounding long-standing wellbeing inequities and intensifying the Crown’s legacy of neglect. This policy outcome carries long-term costs that will burden future generations. What appears today as a financial saving will tomorrow be a far more expensive social and economic reckoning.
Sources and References
- Statistics NZ: Census Data, Household Income and Housing Tenure by Ethnicity
- Kāinga Ora: Official Statements and Project Reports (2024–2025)
- Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Aotearoa Data Explorer
- Ministry of Health: NZ Health Survey, Māori Child Health Statistics (2023)
- Child Poverty Monitor (2023): University of Otago & Children’s Commissioner
- Auckland Council Local Board Profiles (2023): Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Manurewa, Papakura
- Auckland Regional Public Health Service: Housing and Inequality Reports (2022–2024)
- Budget 2024: Ministerial Statements by Hon. Chris Bishop and Kāinga Ora CEO Matt Crockett
- Living Wage Movement Aotearoa: Income Cost of Living Data (2024)
- Education Counts: Māori School Attendance Rates (2023)
- Te Matapihi: Māori Housing Position Papers
