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What assessment, if any, has the Government made of the risk that worsening labour market conditions will increase homelessness, as the Homelessness Insights report to 31 March 2026 records Māori unemployment rising to 11.5 percent and 16,600 more underemployed people than a year earlier?

Answered Question 29059 (2026)
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Asked by

Kieran McAnulty

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • What assessment, if any, has the Government made of the risk that worsening labour market conditions will increase homelessness, as the Homelessness Insights report to 31 March 2026 records Māori unemployment rising to 11.5 percent and 16,600 more underemployed people than a year earlier?

Answered by

Hon Chris Bishop

Member for Hutt South · National Party · Minister of Housing

Answer

No specific assessment of the impact of labour market conditions on homelessness has been undertaken. However, employment relates to income which is a key factor in housing affordability. Both housing affordability and loss of employment or income were reasons cited by client households engaged with HUD's outreach providers at the end of March 2026 (see Figure 2 of the report).