Visibility of homelessness at a local level

Local data on homelessness is not consistently available across all regions

Data gathered across regions indicates that homelessness is not consistently measured or reported at a local level. This can make it difficult to build a complete picture of housing needs across different communities.

In the absence of formal data collection practices, Auckland, New Plymouth, and Napier City Councils are consulting third-party organisations and providers to gain some understanding of the level of need in their cities.  Approaches to measuring and reporting homelessness vary across regions, which can limit comparability and reduce visibility of local trends. 

In response to our OIA requests, other city councils around the motu have expressed interest in strengthening their data approach. We encourage and support these efforts as strengthening local data and aligning approaches across regions would support a clearer understanding of homelessness and more targeted responses.

We need better data and evidence to inform policy and decision making.” (Participant at Lived Experience Workshop, April 2025) 

Data source: Cross-agency data, including information gathered across local and central government systems