14 in every 1000 people live in uninhabitable housing

No water, no electricity, no way to cook, no kitchen sink, no shower or toilet

Everyone needs a safe, warm and dry home to foster true wellbeing and flourish. Living in uninhabitable conditions means having a lack of access to one or more of the basic needs, including water, electricity, means to cook, kitchen sink, bath or shower, and toilet.  

The 7.4% increase in the 2023 Census data is seen across most areas of Aotearoa New Zealand, but regions struck by severe weather events have experienced a higher proportion of people living in uninhabitable housing. For example, the Gisborne region’s uninhabitable rates rose from 191.8 per 10,000 people in 2018 to 354.4 per 10,000 people in 2023 following Cyclone Gabrielle.  

New Zealand’s current building standards and requirements for housing, relative to other OECD countries, are low. For example, in comparison to Ireland (a country New Zealand is often compared to in terms of island geography, population size, social policies and economic development patterns) their thermal requirements for homes are three times higher than ours. In fact, back in 2002, Ireland’s basic insulation standards were already much better than what New Zealand’s had reached by 2020/21. 

The impact of our country’s high rate of inhabitable housing and low building standards results in higher rates of poor health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable communities such as tamariki, older persons, and those living with pre-existing health conditions. Quality homes ensure better health outcomes for everyone, as well as being able to withstand a range of weather events. 

Is there an opportunity for Aotearoa New Zealand to learn from countries around the world and adopt better standards so we build better homes? 

Data source: 2023 Census severe housing deprivation (homelessness) estimates | Stats NZ