National’s Spin Doesn’t Solve Homelessness – Labour

National’s failure when it comes to housing has reached new heights.

“Tama Potaka has put out yet another glowing press release about how well housing support is working. The problem for him is no one will buy it,” said Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty.

“Chris Bishop and Tama Potaka are wanting to look like they are doing something ahead of announcing the ‘move on’ orders, which we understand Cabinet have agreed to, but not yet announced. They have once again chosen spin instead of actual solutions.

“In September last year the Government boasted it would provide an additional 300 social homes for Housing First to address the homelessness crisis quick smart. Today, barely half of those places have been filled.

“Estimates are that 1000 places are needed in Auckland alone. 300 additional places nationwide is a drop of water into an empty bucket.

“National can massage its numbers all it likes, but empty homes go unused, social housing is shrinking, overcrowding is rising, and rough sleepers are being left behind.

“Meanwhile Salvation Army and community sector data show homelessness is increasing across the country, with agencies reporting more people rough sleeping in 2025 than the year before, and linking it to this Government’s policies.

“New Zealanders see this with their own eyes. People are sleeping in parks, in doorways, in cars. They are living jammed into overcrowded houses with nowhere safe to go. That is not progress, that is a crisis deepening on this Government’s watch.

“People deserve real solutions. This is just another example of National making life worse for New Zealanders,” Kieran McAnulty said.