A Māori housing expert says it is concerning that when people are evicted from emergency housing, there has been no plan for where they can go after being kicked out.

A new report from the NZ Human Rights Foundation - 'The right to a decent home in Aotearoa New Zealand: review 2023-2026' - found persistent housing inequality remains largely unchanged, particularly for Māori, Pacific peoples, disabled people and renters and identified that several government initiatives have contributed to declines in affordability, security of tenure, accessibility and cultural adequacy.

The report called for reversing recent policy changes and embedding a human rights and Te Tiriti framework into housing decision-making among other recommendations.

Jacqueline Paul - a Māori housing expert who is on the foundation's managing committee - told Morning Report the report used the UN decency principles, which included habitability, affordability, security of tenure, accessibility, cultural advocacy, location and provision to access core services.

"There's been a major shift compared to what we saw in the previous government where they've prioritised market-led housing policies, greater reliance on private provision which people won't be surprised on, and of course a reduced emphasis on human rights and Te Tiriti-based accountability," she said.

Jacqueline Paul on new report into housing affordability

'Where are they going?' - Concern over emergency housing changes

One of the report's short-term recommendations was to "remove conditions for continuing Kāinga Ora tenancies which limit the universal right to housing. This includes evictions for 'antisocial behaviourʼ or not 'engagingʼ with a payment plan, as defined by Kāinga Ora".

Paul said there had been an increase in those evictions that are affecting both Māori and tamariki (children).

"We should just take into consideration a bit more, whether children are being affected, how those are being weighted in some of those decisions, whether whānau or families are being evicted.

"Kāinga Ora also don't know where they're being evicted to, so within the context of, you know, severe housing deprivation and homelessness, it's quite concerning that we aren't aware of where they are being exited to."

Paul said while emergency housing has its own issues, there had not been a plan for where people are going when they leave it.

"So it's a great idea to have all this planned, but there's nowhere for people to go, and I think that's some of the arguments that people are trying to make where, yeah, we should move people out of social housing, but where are they going?"

Call for return of Māori funding stream

Another of the reports recommendation was to reinstate the Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga initiative as a dedicated Māori funding stream.

The targeted strategy was disestablished in Budget 2025 and the money given to the government's Flexible Housing fund.

"That means there has been major diminishment in Māori housing funding, so we would like to see that re-established," Paul said.

RNZ has approached Associate Minister of Housing Tama Potaka for comment.