The share of affordable rentals has significantly decreased in most of New Zealand's regions in the last five years, according to new research by the Child Poverty Action Group.
The group is also calling for better monitoring of house stock, in the wake of the findings.
Researcher Greg Waite found significant declines in affordable rentals for low-income working families in 12 out of 16 regions between 2018 and 2023.
In particular, the following regions had large declines in their share of affordable rental housing: Northland (-14%), Bay of Plenty (-11%), Gisborne (-14%), Northland (-14%), Bay of Plenty (-11%), Gisborne (-14%), Hawke’s Bay (-17%), Manawatu-Wanganui (22%), Marlborough (-13%) and Southland (-26%).
In contrast, the national trend was for a relatively consistent share of affordable one and two-bedroom rentals — believed to be the result of increased building in Auckland and Christchurch.
In a statement, CPG said the national trend obfuscated significant changes in the regions, and spoke to the need for closer monitoring of rental supply in New Zealand.
CPAG says the research highlighted the need to increase public housing builds, especially in under-served regions.
Waite said: "New Zealand’s private rental market consistently rates as one of the most unaffordable in the OECD. This is because successive governments have chosen housing policies that have failed to match the supply to the demand for affordable housing."
SHARE ME