The Need Here in New Zealand

As New Zealand land prices and the cost of daily living continue to increase at a great rate, the dream of homeownership is sadly one that fewer and fewer New Zealand families are achieving.

A report released in April 2007 by the Child Poverty Action Group stated that “in 2004, there were about 185,000 children in benefit families in some degree of hardship, with 150,000 of them in significant or severe hardship. While official data is yet to be produced for 2007, this report concludes that little has changed for this group of children..”

New Zealand has some of the least affordable housing in the developed world¹, and it is estimated that 29% of households that rent in New Zealand suffer from housing-related stress. The high cost of housing keeps families in a cycle of poverty, as little money is left for food, clothing, healthcare, education, or income generation.

In 2006, 10 percent of the New Zealand population was living in overcrowded conditions ². Many New Zealand homes do not meet building standards due to leaking or use of dangerous materials (lead paint, asbestos etc), and many do not meet the World Health Organisation's guidelines for warmth. Lack of heating and insulation means that homes are ill-equipped to deal with the cold in winter. These substandard conditions are linked to increased illnesses and infections, especially in young children. The flow-on effects from this erodes families' hope and self-worth, and impairs children's ability to succeed in school.