Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says Kāinga Ora is introducing stricter consequences for state house tenants who fail to pay rent and refuse to cooperate.
Yesterday’s announcement follows a government directive in March 2024 to end Kāinga Ora’s Sustaining Tenancies Framework, which previously allowed tenants to remain in housing regardless of rent debt or disruptive behaviour.
Potaka says rent debt surged from $1 million to $21 million between 2017 and 2023, but stricter enforcement last year has reduced it to $16.1 million as of January 2025.
Under the new policy, tenants must engage with Kāinga Ora to repay debt or risk eviction. Rent arrears will be capped at 12 weeks’ rent to make repayments more manageable.
Potaka says while most tenants meet their obligations, stronger accountability measures are needed for those who don’t.
