Govt "out of touch and disconnected" over Kiwis living in social housing

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]When we've got big banks and supermarkets making huge profits, why is it always the poor that have to pay the price? Reforms to social housing is still happening, including increasing the income-related rent contribution from 25 to 30% for those in social housing. That will average out at 31 bucks extra a week to further subsidize those in private rentals, 110,000 of them. They say it's about fairness.

[00:00:23]>> When it comes to the conversation around fairness, you shouldn't be taking from people who are already in poverty to then give to another group. And it's astounding to me that it's always people who are struggling to make ends meet who have to face the brunt of cuts. The tough choice is never to make supermarkets and the big banks pay more.

[00:00:38]In terms of the rental market, ideally what you would want is more rental properties on the market, right?

[00:00:44]>> Not if the supply is housing that is unaffordable for people, right? So we need more public housing specially because that is the kind of housing that reduces house prices, provides affordable rent, and guarantees that we clear the waiting list for people who are homeless, right?

[00:00:56]>> Rental What happens to the price of a rental property when the cost of providing that rental property go up?

[00:01:01]>> Yeah, look, if you're one of those people that own 70 homes, we've already heard from them. They may threaten to put those on the market. Those may go for first home buyers.

[00:01:08]>> And are first home buyers the same people as the social housing, the very poor and needy people that you were describing earlier?

[00:01:14]>> we should not be cutting those social housing projects. The government is pitting one group of people who are struggling against another group of people that are struggling while the rich continue to get richer. This is what is morally indefensible. We could have a system that allows everyone to have enough affordable public housing.

[00:01:28]This is not what's happening right now.