Housing Policy Old

Housing Policy: Affordable Housing for All New Zealanders

The Unity Party is committed to breaking down barriers to homeownership, ensuring that every New Zealander has the opportunity to own a home. Our housing policy supports first-time home buyers and individuals unable to access traditional financing due to adverse credit histories, high living costs, or irregular incomes.

We propose a structured, sustainable model that transitions individuals from rental dependence to homeownership. This includes rent-to-own pathways, affordable modular homes, and structured communities that foster economic growth and social inclusion. Instead of relying on government-funded social housing, Unity’s model ensures homeownership is achievable for all through innovative financing, shared resources, and long-term investment in local communities.

A key part of this transition is moving Kāinga Ora tenants into homeownership, ensuring that social housing is no longer a permanent, taxpayer-funded dependency but instead serves as a stepping stone towards financial independence.

Overcoming Policy Barriers to Innovative Housing Solutions

For decades, successive governments have upheld rigid housing policies based on the belief that all New Zealanders want the same type of home. This one-size-fits-all approach has prevented the adoption of innovative housing solutions, such as modular homes and structured communities, that could significantly reduce costs and improve accessibility.

Current Ministry of Housing and Urban Development guidelines have stifled change by mandating conventional homeownership and rental models while failing to explore alternative pathways. These outdated policies:

  • Ignore the reality that many New Zealanders cannot afford traditional homeownership under existing market conditions.
  • Prevent local solutions such as modular housing and community-based ownership models from being adopted.
  • Maintain an ineffective, expensive social housing model that fosters dependence rather than financial independence.

The Unity Party will rewrite these guidelines to ensure a more flexible, people-focused approach to housing. By removing bureaucratic restrictions and encouraging alternative ownership models, we will create real, lasting solutions for New Zealanders who have been left behind by the current system.

The Issues with Kāinga Ora and Why Change is Necessary

Kāinga Ora, the government agency responsible for state housing, has become financially unsustainable and has failed to provide long-term solutions for New Zealanders in need of housing. Instead of helping people transition to homeownership, it has created a cycle of dependency, where social housing continues to expand without any clear pathway for tenants to move beyond government support.

  • Ballooning Costs and Unsustainable Debt:
    • Kāinga Ora is running at a deficit of approximately $520 million per year, projected to exceed $1.1 billion by 2027/28.
    • The agency’s debt has risen from $2.7 billion in 2018 to $12.3 billion in 2023, with projections reaching $25.5 billion by 2028.
    • Over the next four years, Kāinga Ora operations will cost taxpayers $21.4 billion—equivalent to $4,000 per New Zealander.
  • Failure to Address Homeownership and Economic Independence:
    • Kāinga Ora builds homes at market rates ($500,000–$800,000 per home) but rents them out at heavily subsidized rates, meaning taxpayers cover most of the costs.
    • Instead of reducing reliance on social housing, demand continues to increase, with more families stuck in government housing long-term.
    • There is no structured exit strategy for tenants, keeping them dependent on taxpayer-funded housing indefinitely.
  • Unity’s Solution: A Shift to Homeownership
    • We will transition Kāinga Ora tenants into homeownership through rent-to-own and modular housing models.
    • Once all eligible tenants have secured homeownership, remaining Kāinga Ora properties will be rented at market rates to ensure taxpayers recover investments.
    • This transition will break the cycle of dependency, allowing social housing to once again serve its intended purpose—helping people in crisis, not trapping them in state-funded housing forever.

Policy Objectives

  1. Provide Affordable Modular Housing
    • Construct modular homes priced under $100,000 to ensure accessibility across all income levels.
    • Offer government-backed, interest-free loans:
      • $50,000 modular homes (3-year repayment)
      • $100,000 modular homes (5-year repayment)
    • For families requiring larger homes, government support can exceed $100,000 on a case-by-case basis to ensure adequate housing.
  2. Support High-Risk Applicants with Rent-to-Own
    • Provide a rent-to-own option for applicants deemed a risk based on their financial history.
    • Ensure monthly payments contribute directly toward homeownership.

Foster Sustainable Communities and Economic Growth

  • Develop structured community villages where homeowners share resources, reducing costs.
  • Lower home costs by replacing private kitchens, laundries, and bathrooms in individual homes with communal facilities, reducing construction and maintenance expenses.
  • Provide temporary accommodation for those in need, helping people transition through short-term housing solutions in structured communities.
  • Encourage local entrepreneurship by allowing communities to generate income through tourism, business collaboration, and shared services.
    • Support micro-economies within communities, allowing residents to develop small businesses such as:
      • Tourism ventures (e.g., guided hunting and fishing trips, Māori cultural experiences, wellness retreats, eco-tourism lodges).
      • Food production and co-operatives (e.g., community gardens, bulk-buying initiatives, shared meal services).
      • Trade-based businesses (e.g., artisan workshops, carpentry, mechanics, local repair services).
      • Education and skills training (e.g., language schools, apprenticeships, creative arts programs).
      • Community-based accommodation (e.g., Airbnb-style short-term rentals for visitors, work-exchange programs, emergency housing solutions).
  • Provide government-backed business training and mentorship programs to help residents develop their businesses.

Incorporate Sustainability

  • Require all new housing developments to integrate solar energy solutions.
  • Promote environmentally sustainable construction using efficient materials.

Work with Māori and Local Iwi

  • Ensure land acquisition and housing developments align with Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi).
  • Partner with iwi and hapū to identify land for housing developments that support both community needs and cultural values.
  • Provide iwi-led homeownership pathways that respect and integrate Māori land rights, ensuring whānau can remain connected to their ancestral lands.
  • Facilitate iwi-driven housing initiatives, allowing Māori to develop housing solutions tailored to their communities while maintaining self-determination.

A Future Where Housing Works for Everyone

Housing should not be a privilege—it should be a right. Unity’s policy ensures affordability, security, and opportunity for all New Zealanders through a model that is financially sustainable, socially empowering, and environmentally responsible.