Further to reply 29139 (2026), with the admission that there is no regular national measure of people living without shelter, does the Minister expect such a measure to be in place, and what work, if any, is currently underway to establish one?

Answer

Stats NZ and MCERT are working closely on how homelessness will be measured in the future. This includes: • adding questions on access to basic amenities, size suitability of current home, and experiences of homelessness being included in the 2026/27 Household Income and Living Survey (the same survey used to monitor child poverty) to be reported from early 2028 • establishing a Homeless and Transient Populations Data Advisory Group • exploring the potential for admin data – eg. the use of information from transitional housing and housing register data • consideration as to whether these types of questions might be included in future census surveys and through ‘tailored solutions’ eg. point-in-time street counts.