Principles for public housing futures
Publicly owned and resourced
Public housing is owned by the public in perpetuity by us – either through central Government or local councils. There are specific policies in place to prevent the sale of public housing so that it remains in public hands for the public good. The maintenance and construction of public housing is properly funded by the government through budgets where our collective resources go towards everyone having a home.
Permanently affordable and secure
People can stay in public housing no matter their income, with rents they can always afford, determined by policy and not the market. Processes to retrofit or renew housing does not result in displacement, as people have the right to stay in their communities and their homes - safeguarded by secure tenancies.
Available to everyone
An abundance of public housing means that it is available to all, from those on the lowest incomes to those on higher incomes. Having the option of public housing, means people are not forced to pay rent for the personal gain of landlords. Instead the rent we pay goes into building more state housing for people in our communities and maintaining our homes.
Designed for thriving and inclusive communities
Public housing is designed to reflect our communities. It is designed for people at all different ages and stages, income levels and family situations. There are multigenerational options so families can stay together and culturally responsive housing so cultures feel at home. Housing is accessible, using Universal Design for disabled people and whānau. We build beautiful, well-designed and climate resilient housing that is a part of wider communities and built to last – connected to schools, hospitals, public transport and community facilities.
Grounded in Te Tiriti
Public housing exists in a Tiriti-based housing system where hapū and iwi have rangatiratanga of their homes and lands and where state housing in the kāwanatanga sphere uphold the rights of Māori to a decent, stable and culturally adequate home. The places where state housing is built are connected to the whenua with thought put into its relationship to the place it's built and in relationship with mana whenua.
