-- the introduction of market rents for state owned houses (instead of rent being set as a percentage - usually 25% - of a tenant's income); and

-- the introduction of an asset and income tested cash benefit, the Accommodation Supplement, as the only form of direct assistance for low-income tenants and homeowners in either public or private housing.

At the time, it was argued that these changes would make the housing market more efficient and fair and address the problem that tenants in state houses received more assistance than people with similar needs who rented privately.

Housing policy was not perfect before 1991 and change to address real problems was needed. However there is a great deal of evidence to suggest that the changes that were made have not improved access to affordable, safe housing for low-income New Zealanders. In fact the housing situation for many low-income people seems to have got significantly worse.

-- The N Z Council of Christian Social Services survey of foodbank clients found that between 1994 and 1996, the number of state house tenants spending half or more of their income on their housing costs increased from 37.5% to 58.8%, and private tenants spending half or more of their income on rent increased from 58.9% to 62.7%.

-- In 1994, according to The Real Estate Institute, higher state rents led to an increase in all rents.

-- Rental costs have increased by an average of 60% in the last decade while in the same period the overall Consumers' Price Index increased by only 25% according to the recently released National Health Committee Report.

-- The number of households with two or more families increased by 96% between 1986 and 1996 with most of this increase occurring between 1991 and 1996.

--There has been an increase in hospital admissions from childhood diseases that are known to be associated with overcrowding, including meningococcal disease and respiratory infections.

"The link between housing and poverty means that New Zealand can not be a socially just nation without seriously addressing the issues and problems outlined ... "

-- There is a continuing and increasing prevalence of serious housing need - up from 17,500 households in 1988 to 48,800 households in 1993, according to one study.

-- The Ministry of Housing assessed the number of households in 1994 in serious housing need at between 20,000 and 30,000.

A recent Christchurch study identified accommodation costs as "...probably the issue having the biggest direct and indirect impact on the ability of limited income people to meet their basic needs" (Jamieson 1998). This is in line with results from the New Zealand Poverty Measurement Project, which showed that in 1993 housing costs were the single largest contributor to the "poverty gap".

-- Rent was the single most frequently mentioned reason for seeking help from 45.5% of foodbank clients surveyed in 1996.

-- Until 1990 there were very few foodbanks in New Zealand by February 1998 there were over 365.

-- The WIN on Poverty Campaign was declined a copy of the 1996 Colmar Brunton report on the Department of Social Welfare/Ministry of Housing survey "because of the extensive errors it contained". However the Ministry's own amended results (obtained under the Official Information Act) using March 1997 data showed that 32% of Accommodation Supplement recipients had $100 or less to cover all their living expenses after paying accommodation costs. 49% had $150 or less. These survey results were not made publicly available.

-- acknowledging the link between housing costs and poverty;

-- acknowledging the existence of significant and serious housing problems in New Zealand; and

-- in genuine consultation with community sector organisations, developing policies to address these problems.

Sources -- Housing The Hungry: The Third Report, NZCCSS, 1996; Real Estate Institute 1995; The Social, Cultural And Economic Determinants Of Health In New Zealand: Action To Improve Health, A Report From The National Advisory Committee On Health And Disability, 1998; Serious Housing Need, Ministry of Housing, 1994; The Extent of Serious Housing Need, Waldegrave and Sawrey, 1994; National Health Committee Report as above, quoting Jamieson, 1998; Measuring Poverty in New Zealand, R Stephens, C Waldegrave and P Frater, Social Policy Journal, December 1995: Housing the Hungry: the third report, NZCCSS, 1996; Foodbank Use in New Zealand, NZCCSS, 1998; WIN on Poverty Report, Women's Information Network, 1998;