Let’s talk about housing. Not simply the number of houses being built, the movement of interest rates or what the latest property market figures might suggest. Let’s talk about what housing actually means for whānau trying to put a roof over their heads, pay the rent, raise tamariki and somehow save enough money to own a home.
Throughout our Radio Waatea #QuestionOfTheDay series, housing and affordability have emerged as major concerns. And that should come as no surprise.
For many whānau, the housing crisis is not an abstract economic debate. It is the weekly struggle to make the rent, the inability to save a deposit, overcrowded living conditions, and the growing fear that homeownership may never become a reality.
At Waatea, we have covered this kaupapa extensively, from the cost-of-living pressures facing households to the consequences of housing policy changes for Māori.
And the question we should now be asking political parties as the election approaches is straightforward.
We know the problem. So where are the solutions?
The Rental Trap: Paying More, Saving Less
In September, Waatea reported renewed upward pressure on rents, including figures showing weekly rents reaching $700 in Otago.
Earlier, an August survey highlighted an even more concerning issue, with around half of the renters surveyed reporting that they were spending more than 50 percent of their income on rent.
That survey finding should not be confused with a measure of all New Zealand renters, but it illustrates the severe affordability pressures experienced by respondents.
Consider what that means for a household.
If half of your income is going towards rent before you have purchased groceries, paid the electricity bill, filled the car or covered school expenses, there is very little left to save.
And without savings, homeownership becomes increasingly difficult.
For Māori whānau, particularly those on lower incomes or supporting larger households, high housing costs can have consequences across almost every other aspect of life.
Housing affordability is therefore not simply a property market issue. It is also a question of poverty, health, educational opportunity and long-term economic security.
Homeownership: The Dream Moving Further Away
The other side of the housing crisis is the difficulty of getting onto the property ladder.
Even when house prices stabilise or decline, affordability does not automatically improve.
Buyers still need deposits, sufficient income to service a mortgage, access to finance and confidence that their employment will remain secure.
For existing homeowners, higher mortgage costs, insurance premiums, council rates and maintenance expenses can place significant pressure on household budgets.
Waatea has previously examined the financial risks facing Māori homeowners, including the possibility that households could become increasingly exposed to rising ownership costs.
There is also a longer-term consequence.
Homeownership has traditionally been one of the main ways families build wealth and provide financial security for future generations.
When more households remain in expensive rental accommodation for longer, the gap between those who own property and those who do not can become increasingly entrenched.
That is particularly important when considering intergenerational wealth and the economic position of Māori whānau.
Māori Housing Needs More Than a General Housing Policy
Housing policy must also recognise that Māori face circumstances not always addressed by conventional market-based approaches.
These include barriers to finance, the complexities of developing collectively owned Māori land, access to infrastructure, regional housing shortages and the need for homes that accommodate different whānau arrangements.
There is also the question of whether government housing programmes are designed and delivered in partnership with Māori or whether Māori organisations are simply expected to fit within systems developed elsewhere.
Housing development on whenua Māori offers opportunities for whānau to remain connected to their communities while building long-term housing security.
But unlocking those opportunities requires practical solutions involving infrastructure, lending, planning, technical expertise and sustained investment.
A housing policy that focuses only on increasing the overall number of houses risks overlooking these specific challenges.
So What Are the Solutions?
There is no single policy that will solve New Zealand’s housing crisis. But there are several practical areas where government, councils, iwi, community housing providers and the private sector could make a measurable difference.
First, build more homes where people actually need them.
Increasing supply remains essential, particularly in regions experiencing population growth and severe housing shortages.
The Government’s Going for Housing Growth programme focuses on removing planning barriers, improving infrastructure financing and encouraging councils to accommodate development.
Budget 2026 also established a $400 million incentives fund linked to housing growth and allocated further funding intended to support between 1,800 and 2,250 additional social and other homes over three years from 2028/29.
Those measures provide a framework, but their effectiveness will depend on how quickly developments proceed and whether the homes delivered are affordable to the households needing them.
Second, tackle rental affordability and housing quality together.
Building additional houses is important, but renters need relief and security in the meantime.
Potential approaches include increasing affordable rental supply, strengthening enforcement of Healthy Homes Standards, improving tenancy stability and reviewing whether housing assistance adequately reflects regional costs.
There is a genuine policy debate about rent controls, landlord incentives and tenancy regulation. Measures designed to protect renters also need to be assessed for their effects on rental supply.
The objective should be straightforward: a rental market where households can afford a healthy home without sacrificing other essentials.
Third, unlock the potential of whenua Māori and papakāinga development.
This is one of the most important opportunities for Māori housing.
Whenua Māori can support papakāinga, kaumātua housing, affordable rentals and homes that allow whānau to maintain their connections to whenua and whakapapa.
Yet development can be complicated by financing arrangements, land tenure, infrastructure costs and consenting requirements.
The Government’s own Māori housing framework recognises these barriers and supports Māori-led solutions.
A stronger approach could combine dedicated development funding, infrastructure assistance, specialist lending products and streamlined coordination between agencies.
The key is ensuring that Māori organisations lead the design and delivery of housing solutions rather than simply competing for conventional housing contracts.
Fourth, make homeownership achievable again.
First-home buyers need more than encouragement to save.
They need access to homes that are affordable relative to their incomes, practical deposit pathways and mortgage products that recognise different household and land-ownership arrangements.
Options worth examining include shared-equity schemes, progressive homeownership, long-term affordable housing developments and targeted support for eligible first-home buyers.
However, buyer assistance must be designed carefully. If financial support increases purchasing power without increasing housing supply, it can contribute to higher prices.
Fifth, invest in the infrastructure that makes housing possible.
A housing development is not simply a collection of buildings.
It requires roads, water, wastewater, electricity, public transport and access to schools and healthcare.
Infrastructure costs can make otherwise viable developments unaffordable or delay construction for years.
Better coordination between central government, councils, developers and iwi could help unlock land while ensuring communities have the services they need.
Finally, treat housing as a long-term national priority.
Housing development requires planning and investment over many years, often beyond the term of a single government.
That makes consistency important.
Changes in funding programmes, planning rules and government priorities can create uncertainty for developers, community housing providers and Māori organisations.
A durable housing strategy needs clear targets, transparent reporting and a realistic funding pathway.
The Election Question: What Will Actually Change?
As the November election approaches, the political parties are offering different approaches to housing.
Some favour freeing up land and encouraging private development. Others emphasise stronger renter protections, public housing investment, tax reform or greater support for Māori-led development.
The differences matter, and voters should be able to compare the proposals against measurable outcomes rather than campaign slogans.
How many affordable homes would be delivered?
How quickly could they be built?
What would they cost taxpayers, councils and households?
How would the policies help renters today, rather than only future homeowners?
And, critically, how would they improve housing outcomes for Māori?
These are questions every party seeking to form the next government should be prepared to answer.
Housing Is About More Than Four Walls and a Roof
At Radio Waatea, our coverage has consistently shown that housing connects to almost every other major challenge facing whānau.
It affects whether tamariki have somewhere stable to learn and grow, whether kaumātua can remain close to their communities, whether families can afford healthy food, and whether young people can imagine owning a home.
It also influences employment, health outcomes, household debt and the ability to build wealth across generations.
The figures already tell us that the pressures are significant.
Trade Me’s August rental index recorded a national median weekly rent of $625, with Otago reaching $700. The Aotearoa Renters’ Survey found that approximately half of its 3,310 respondents were spending more than half their income on rent, while more than four in ten reported problems with mould, dampness or draughts.
Those are not just housing statistics. They represent real pressures on household budgets and living conditions.
The question is no longer whether Aotearoa has a housing affordability problem. The question is whether the next government can deliver solutions that people can actually see, access and afford.
For Māori, that must include genuine opportunities to build on whenua, expand Māori-led housing and create lasting housing security for future generations.
Because a home should be more than a financial asset or a weekly bill that consumes half a household’s income.
It should be the foundation on which whānau can build their future.
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