Wai 2750 – Housing Policy and Services Kaupapa Inquiry

Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) leads the Crown’s response to the Wai 2750 Kaupapa Inquiry into Housing Policy and Services (Wai 2750). It is the opportunity to reset the housing system in partnership with Māori.

Memahi tahi tatou, mō te oranga o te katoa

We should work together for the benefit of everyone 

What Wai 2750 is about

A black and white photograph from 1970 showing the outside of a residential house

Māori Affairs Housing, Auckland. 21 Kelston Street, New Lynn.
Photographer: G Riethmaier. October 1970, Auckland
Image source: Housing in New Zealand – Archives New Zealand. (external link)

The Wai 2750 inquiry will hear claims from Māori who have been affected by housing policy and services. Many of the claims raise issues about housing that have been brought on behalf of whānau, hapū and iwi from across the motu.

Claims 

The claims are based upon the Crown’s alleged actions relating to an inadequate standard of rural and urban housing for Māori, and the Crown’s delivery of state services, programmes and support enabling Māori access to adequate housing.  

Four broad themes have been identified by the Tribunal for the Housing Inquiry: 

  • housing policy, practice and regulation of the housing market 
  • social housing: the provision of ‘public housing’ by the government (central and/or local) 
  • use and development of Māori land for housing 
  • relationship between poor physical and mental health (and other socio-economic factors) and housing. 

Waitangi Tribunal



Māori houses at Pakuranga, Auckland, built from a plan of the Department of Māori Affairs.
Photographer: G Riethmaier. October 1970, Auckland
Image source: Housing in New Zealand – Archives New Zealand(external link)

 

The Waitangi Tribunal panel is led by Presiding Officer, Judge Craig Tamihana Coxhead and includes Prue Kapua, Dr Paul Hamer and Basil Morrison.  The Tribunal will hear evidence from claimants and the Crown about housing policy and services and the impact these have had, and continue to have, on Māori.

See a record of the Inquiry as at 30 January 2023. (PDF, 252 KB)

Read evidence submitted to the Inquiry by claimants and the Crown.(external link)

See tips to help you navigate the Waitangi Tribunal website(external link).

 

Waitangi Tribunal  report: Kāinga Kore: The Stage One Report of the Housing Policy and Services Kaupapa Inquiry on Māori Homelessness

Kāinga Kore: The Stage One Report of the Housing Policy and Services Kaupapa Inquiry on Māori Homelessness was released by the Waitangi Tribunal on 19 May 2023.

Stage One of the Wai 2750 Inquiry focused on Māori homelessness, and Crown policies, legislation, practices, actions, and alleged omissions from 1 August 2009 to the present day related to a national strategy addressing issues of Māori homelessness.

The Inquiry commenced in 2019 and there were 79 initial claims concerning Māori homelessness. Hearings were held in Auckland and Wellington in 2021. Over the coming weeks the Government will consider the report prior to providing a response.

The Inquiry report can be accessed on the Ministry of Justice website.(external link)

Evidential Fact Sheets

  • Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa (RBNZ) – MARCH 2021

    Download D017 here. (PDF, 500 KB)

    WT Doc# Description New/Updated
    D017 Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) restrictions  

  • Hīkina Whakatutuki (MBIE) – MARCH 2021

    Download D018 here. (PDF, 485 KB)

    WT Doc # Description New/Updated
    D018 Resettled Refugee Housing  

  • Te Puni Kōkiri – MARCH 2021

    Download D16 here. (PDF, 787 KB)

    WT Doc# Description New/Updated
    D16 Māori Housing Network  
    D16 Te Ara Mauwhare: Pathways to Home Ownership (and the Sorted Kāinga Ora programme)  
    D16 Whānau Ora  
    D16 Whenua Māori Programme  

  • Kāinga Ora - MARCH 2021

    Download D010 here.  (PDF, 1.5 MB)

     

    WT Doc #

    Description

    New/Updated

    D010 

    Accessibility Policy 

     

    D010 

    Anti-Social Behaviour Guideline 

     

    D010 

    Asset Management Strategy 2018-2028 

     

    D010 

    Assistance to Housing Independence Programme 

     

    D010 

    Anga Mahi Tahi, Tuitui Hoki - Partnership And Engagement Framework 

     

    D010 

    Auckland Housing Programme 

     

    D010 

    Bonds Policy 

     

    D010 

    Business Initiated Transfer Procedure 

     

    D010 

    Customer Placement process including pre-placement interview,  

    suspensions and waivers 

     

    D010 

    Kāinga Whenua Loans 

     

    D010 

    Long-term Investment Plan 

     

    D010 

    Māori Strategy, Te Anga Whakamua, Te Au Roa 

     

    D010 

    Meth Policy (Policy for managing methamphetamine contamination of  

    Kāinga Ora-managed properties) 

     

    D010 

    MyKāingaOra 

     

    D010 

    Red Hill Pilot 

     

    D010 

    Rural Housing Programme 

     

    D010 

    Strategic Plan 2017-2021 and Statement of Intent 2019/2023 

     

    D010 

    Sustaining Tenancies Draft Policy Suite 

     

    D010 

    Tenant Home Ownership Programme 

     

    D010 

    Te Waka Urungi 

     

    D010 

    Retrofit Programme 

     

  • Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga (HUD) – NOVEMBER 2022 UPDATE

    Download D12(b) here. (PDF, 17 MB)

    WT Doc #

    Description

    New/Updated

    D12(b) 

    Aotearoa New Zealand Homelessness Action Plan 

    Updated  

    D12(b) 

    Contracted Emergency Housing Motels 

    New  

    D12(b) 

    Appendix: Briefing: Lessons learned from the Rotorua emergency housing pilot 

     

    D12(b) 

    COVID-19 Homelessness Response 

    Updated 

    D12(b) 

    Housing First 

    Updated 

    D12(b) 

    Local Innovation and Partnership Fund 

    Updated 

    D12(b) 

    MAIHI Ka Ora (National Māori Housing Strategy) 

    Updated 

    D12(b) 

    Preventing and Reducing Homelessness: Increasing Supply in the Short Term to Reduce Reliance on Motels 

    Updated 

    D12(b) 

    Rapid Rehousing 

    Updated  

    D12(b) 

    Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019 

    Updated  

    D12(b) 

    Residential Tenancies Act 1986 - various reforms and amendments 

    New  

    D12(b) 

    Appendix: Evidential Fact Sheet on Residential Tenancies Act, Various Reforms and Amendments 

     

    D012(b) 

    Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and other matters) Amendment Act 2021 

    New  

    D012(b) 

    Supported Accommodation for Youth 

    Updated  

    D012(b) 

    Sustaining Tenancies 

    Updated  

    D012(b) 

    Appendix: Forrester report – Final design of the sustaining tenancies services 

     

    D012(b) 

    Transitional Housing (Urgently Increasing Supply) 

    Updated  

  • Kāinga Ora - NOVEMBER 2022 UPDATE

    Download D010(d) here. (PDF, 5.6 MB)

    WT Doc #

    Description

    New/Updated

    D010(d) 

    Accessibility policy 

    Updated 

    D010(d) 

    Business Initiated Transfer 

    Updated 

    D010(d) 

    Customer Placement, including pre-placement interview, suspensions and waivers (NOW Match to suitable home policy & pre-housing conversation policy) 

    Updated 

    D010(d) 

    Appendix A: Match to Suitable Home policy 

     

    D010(d) 

    Appendix B: Pre-housing Conversation policy 

     

    D010(d) 

    Māori Strategy, Te Anga Whakamua, Te Au Roa (NOW Te Rautaki Māori o Kāinga Ora, Te Anga Whakamua, Te Au Roa) 

    Updated 

    D010(d) 

    Meth policy 

    Updated 

    D010(d) 

    MyKaingaOra 

    Updated 

    D010(d) 

    Renewal (Rebuild and Retrofit) Programme 

    Updated 

    D010(d) 

    Sustaining Tenancies Draft Policy Suite (Now Sustaining Tenancies Framework) - It is noted that the implementation of the new Sustaining Tenancies Framework has not made any changes to the existing Customer Strategy and Programme Evidential Factsheet of 5 March 2021 (#D10, Tab 10). 

    Updated 

    D010(d) 

    Appendix: Interim Disruptive Behaviour Approach 

     

    D010(d) 

    Te Waka Urungi 

    Updated 

  • Te Tari Taiwhenua (DIA) – MARCH 2021

    Download D15 here. (PDF, 561 KB)

    WT Doc# Description New/Updated
    D15 Rates Rebate Act 1973  
    D15 Whenua Māori Rating  

  • Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora (MSD) – DECEMBER 2022 UPDATE

    Download D019a here. (PDF, 3.6 MB)

    WT Doc # Description New/Updated
    D019a Accommodation Supplement  
    D019a Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant  
    D019a MyMSD  
    D019a Social Allocation System (SAS)  
    D019a Temporary Additional Support (TAS)  

  • Oranga Tamariki – MARCH 2021

    Download D013 here.  (PDF, 568 KB)

     WT Doc #  Description New/Updated

    D013  

    Transition support for young people leaving Oranga Tamariki care (with a focus on supported accommodation) 

    		  

  • Oranga Tamariki – NOVEMBER 2022 UPDATE

    Download D13(a) here.  (PDF, 655 KB)

    WT Doc #

    Description

    New/Updated

    D13(a) 

    Transition Support Service for young people leaving Oranga Tamariki care 

     

  • Te Ara Poutama (Corrections) - NOVEMBER 2022 UPDATE

    Download D05 (b) here. (PDF, 2.1 MB)

     WT Doc # 

    Description  

    		  New / Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Community Alternatives – Electronic Monitoring (EM) Bail Options for Women 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Creating Positive Pathways (CPP) 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Employment and Accommodation Services 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Enhanced Supported Accommodation and Employment Service (NOW Manaaki Atu – Residential Reintegration Service) 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    He Kete Oranga o te Mana Wāhine 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Hōkai Rangi: Ara Poutama Aotearoa Strategy, 2019-2024 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Homelessness Action Plan – Support for Returning Overseas Offenders who are homeless 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Housing and Support Services Programme 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Out of Gate 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Reintegration Services for Returning Offenders 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Reintegration Support Services (PARS) 

     

    D05 (b) 

    Residential Reintegration Service – CRC Ltd and Salisbury Street Foundation (Now Residential Reintegration Service – Salisbury Street Foundation) 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Support for Women Who Are Leaving Prison Aotearoa New Zealand Homeless Action Plan 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Supported Accommodation and Emergency Accommodation 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Supported Accommodation for Women – Building Foundations 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Tiaki Tangata 

    Updated 

    D05 (b) 

    Whare Oranga Ake 

    Updated 

  • Te Ara Poutama – Corrections – MARCH 2021 

    Download D05 here.  (PDF, 1.3 MB)

    WT Doc # 

    Description  

    New / Updated  

    D05  

    Community Alternatives – Electronic Monitoring (EM) Bail Options for Women 

     

    D05  

    Community Based Residential Service – Te Whare Awhina and Te Whare Manaaki 

     

    D05  

    Creating Positive Pathways (CPP) 

     

    D05  

    Employment and Accommodation Services 

     

    D05  

    Enhanced Supported Accommodation and Employment Service 

     

    D05  

    He Kete Oranga o te Mana Wāhine 

     

    D05  

    Hōkai Rangi: Ara Poutama Aotearoa Strategy, 2019-2024 

     

    D05  

    Homelessness Action Plan – Support for returned overseas offenders who are homeless 

     

    D05  

    Housing and Support Services Programme of Work 

     

    D05  

    Out of Gate 

     

    D05  

    Reintegration Services for Returning Offenders 

     

    D05  

    Reintegration Support Services 

     

    D05  

    Residential Reintegration Service – CRC Ltd and Salisbury Street  

    Foundation 

     

    D05  

    Supported Accommodation and Emergency Accommodation 

     

    D05  

    Supported Accommodation for Women – Building Foundations 

     

    D05  

    Supported Accommodation – Lower North 

     

    D05  

    Support for Women Who Are Leaving Prison – Aotearoa New Zealand  

    Homelessness Action Plan 

     

    D05  

    Tiaki Tangata 

     

    D05  

    Whare Oranga Ake 

     

  • Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora (MSD) – MARCH 2021

    Download D019 here. (PDF, 1.1 MB)

    WT Doc # Description New/Updated
    D019 Accommodation Supplement  
    D019 Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant  
    D019

    Housing-Related Hardship Assistance, including Housing Support

    Products (HSP)    		  
    D019 MyMSD  
    D019 Social Allocation System (SAS) and Income Related Rent (IRR)  
    D019 Temporary Additional Support  

  • Te Tāhū o te Ture (MoJ) – MARCH 2021

    Download D011 here. (PDF, 543 KB)

    WT Doc #

    Description

    New/Updated

    D011 

    The Court of New Beginnings – Te Kooti O Timatanga Hou (TKTH) 

     

  • Te Tai Ōhanga (The Treasury) - MARCH 2021

      Download D14 here. (PDF, 518 KB)

    WT Doc # Description New/Updated
    D14 Social Housing Reform Program  

  • Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga (HUD) – OCTOBER 2021 UPDATE

    Download D026 here. (PDF, 451 KB)

    Download D027 here. (PDF, 505 KB)

    WT Doc #

    Description 

    New/Updated

    D026 

    Residential Development Response Fund 

     

    D027 

    Land for Housing Programme (formerly the Crown Land Development Programme) 

     

  • Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga (HUD) – NOVEMBER 2021 UPDATE

    Download D028 here. (PDF, 468 KB)

    Download D029 here. (PDF, 479 KB)

    Download D030 here. (PDF, 584 KB)

    WT Doc #

    Description

    New/Updated

    D028 

    Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga (WKWO) 

     

    D029 

    Government Policy Statement on Housing & Urban Development 

     

    D030 

    MAIHI Ka Ora – National Māori Housing Strategy 

     

  • Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga (HUD) – DECEMBER 2021 UPDATE

    Download D021(a) here. (PDF, 480 KB)

    Download D033 here. (PDF, 564 KB)

    WT Doc #

    Description

    New/Updated

    D021(a) 

    COVID-19 Homelessness Response – December 2021  

    Updated 

    D033 

    Te Tautiaki – Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga Māori Strategy 

     

  • Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga (HUD) – MARCH 2021

    Download D012 here. (PDF, 3.4 MB)

    WT Doc #

    Description

    New/Updated

    D012 

    Aotearoa NZ Homelessness Action Plan 

     

    D012 

    Community Housing Regulatory Authority 

     

    D012 

    Community Group Housing (with Kāinga Ora – Homes and  

    Communities) 

     

    D012 

    COVID-19 Homelessness Response 

     

    D012 

    Data and Evidence Initiative 

     

    D012 

    First Home Grant (Formerly Kiwisaver First Home Deposit Subsidy and  

    Kiwisaver Homestart Grant) 

     

    D012 

    First Home Loan (Formerly KiwiBank In Reach, then Welcome Home Loan) 

     

    D012 

    Funding for submarket/affordable rentals (including the Housing  

    Innovation Fund (HIF) and the Social Housing Fund (SHF) 

     

    D012 

    Government Policy Statement on Housing and Urban Development (GPSHUD 

     

    D012 

    He Whare Āhuru He Oranga Tāngata – The Māori Housing Strategy 

     

    D012 

    Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 (HASHAA) 

     

    D012 

    Housing First 

     

    D012 

    Infrastructure Funding and Financing Act 

     

    D012 

    Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities Act and the Urban Development Act 

     

    D012 

    Kiwibuild / the Government build programme (with Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities) 

     

    D012 

    Kiwisaver First Home Savings Withdrawal and the Kiwisaver Savings Withdrawal Determination for Previous Homeowners 

     

    D012 

    The Local Innovation and Partnership Fund 

     

    D012 

    MAIHI – Māori and Iwi Housing Innovation Framework for Action 

     

    D012 

    National Policy Statement on Urban Development Capacity 2016 (NPSUDC) and National Policy Statement On Urban Development 2020 (NPSUD) 

     

    D012 

    Preventing and Reducing Homelessness: Increasing Supply in the Short Term to Reduce Reliance on Motels 

     

    D012 

    Progressive Home Ownership (PHO) Fund 

     

    D012 

    Provision of data and analysis on Māori housing and homelessness 

     

    D012 

    Public and Community Housing Management Act (PACHMA) 1992 and Social Housing Reform Programme (SHRP) 2014 

     

    D012 

    Public Housing Funding Settings Policy (Income Related Rent Subsidy and Operating Supplement) 

     

    D012 

    Public Housing Plan 

     

    D012 

    Rapid Rehousing 

     

    D012 

    Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019 

     

    D012 

    Supported Accommodation for Youth 

     

    D012 

    Sustaining Tenancies 

     

    D012 

    Transitional Housing (Urgently Increasing Supply) 

     

    D012 

    Unit Titles Act 2010 

     

    D012 

    Urban Growth Agenda 

     

    D012 

    Urban Growth Partnerships 

     

How we lead

The Lead Minister for the Kaupapa inquiry into Housing Policy and Services (Wai 2750) is Hon Tama Potaka, Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing).

Te Tūāpapa Kura Kainga coordinates and leads the Crown’s response to Wai 2750, working with Crown Law. The Māori and Iwi Housing Innovation Framework for Action Plan (MAIHI) guides our approach to the Inquiry.

We have a dedicated Wai 2750 team leading Treaty-anchored analysis and supporting the Crown agencies involved in housing for a collective and dedicated approach.

We use MAIHI to:

  • take a system-wide approach to participation in the Inquiry
  • review claimant issues
  • respond to the claimants’ evidence
  • seek to work in partnership with Māori towards a long-term reset of the housing system.

Find out more about MAIHI on our MAIHI and Māori housing page.

Research to support Wai 2750

Research is critical to the outcome of Wai 2750. It ensures there is a strong evidence base on both the issues raised by the claimants and the solutions needed to reset the housing system in partnership with Māori.

 Read the research.

ARA - Our pathway

There are many pathways to a resolution, and the analogy we have chosen is the pathway to the principle home of Māori, to the Whare wānanga, where Māori meet the Crown to have meaningful dialogue, to work together and seek understanding and agreement for actions.  

The ara or pathway is wide at the start and the invitation for the Crown to participate comes from Māori (claimants).  As we work our way down this pathway we come closer together in our understanding towards building relationships and partnerships for better outcomes.

For the Crown’s journey along the ara, we intend to:

  • accept the housing history of Aotearoa New Zealand
  • show respect in our engagement including to that of claimant needs
  • acknowledge the failings and propose changes for better outcomes.

Te Mauri o Te Whānau

Te Mauri o Te Whānau centres our collective focus and outcome on the wellbeing of the whānau and is at the heart of MAIHI and the Crown’s review of the current system, our response to better housing outcomes for Māori and how we reset the practice in partnership.

The Crown recognises tino rangatiratanga for all claimants and those they represent.

The Wai 2750 Inquiry is an opportunity to strengthen Māori-Crown relationships so, together, we can provide long-term housing solutions with the intent to reset the housing system.

Get in touch with the Wai 2750 team

If you have any questions about Wai 2750, contact us at wai_2750@hud.govt.nz

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