Healthy and Affordable Housing
Every individual has a right to a home, and every child deserves a warm, dry and safe environment to grow up in. The housing crisis faced by many children and families is an ongoing concern for CPAG, evident particularly among those living in cars or garages for extended periods of time.
CPAG regularly comments on housing issues. In 2015 and 2016 CPAG was involved in two campaigns that shone a spotlight on the issues: Hikoi for Homes (2015) and #ParkUpForHomes (2016).
On this page you can read material related to those two campaigns.
Hikoi for Homes (2015)
Background
In 2015 Child Poverty Action Group invited New Zealanders to join our Hikoi for Homes. The major marches and rallies occurred in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington and were jointly organised by CPAG, Auckland Action Against Poverty, First Union and Unite. They attracted hundreds of people, calling for quality, affordable and safe housing for all New Zealanders.
Aucklanders walked through the state houses of Glen Innes and on to the elite properties of Kohimarama and Orakei; Wellingtonians took in the central city’s Cuba Mall and Civic Square; Cantabrians took over the eastern suburb of Linwood, near the Eastgate Shopping Centre.
Alan Johnson: Why we should hikoi for homes
The idea that housing is a basic human need has escaped the imagination of politicians and well-housed bureaucrats who advise them. Housing is now simply about markets and the interests of investors, banks and builders. There is little concern in the media or in politics for low-income people and their families who struggle to rising rents. There is no concern for the thousands on state house waiting lists with no hope of ever getting in a house which is secure, safe and affordable.
Housing is at the sharp end growing inequality in New Zealand. Property owners get richer on rising property prices and their untaxed capital gains. Meanwhile, younger people and those who have struggled for a lifetime on low wages and unreliable employment struggle to pay rents and to cope with the insecurity that comes with being a tenant. This division will get sharper unless there is a radical rethink of how we run housing and how we tax wealth in New Zealand.
This rethink needs to involve us seeing housing not as a commodity but as a human right, essential for people to prosper and for our children to be nurtured well. This means that the government needs to be more hands-on and to become an active investor and developer in the housing market – just as it was for the 50 years before 1991. This means, too, that we must adopt a long-term view of housing and to ensure that tenants have more rights.
Only through public pressure on politicians will such a rethink occur, and while elections might help to change things more action is required. To increase pressure for a radical rethink of housing, community groups and trade unions are organising protest marches. These protests are known as Hikoi for Homes and will be held on Saturday 21 November in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Be a part of a growing demand for major changes around housing in New Zealand by coming along to one of these hikoi. These are family-friendly events that offer something for everyone, so bring your friends and whanau, your banners and voices, and hikoi for homes.
Our Kaupapa
The groups leading the Hikoi believe that housing is a basic human need, and thus access to decent quality, affordable and safe housing should be seen a human right. This means that the State has an obligation to ensure that everyone living in New Zealand always has access to adequate and secure housing. The groups further believe that this obligation means that housing needs to be considered as more than a commodity whose allocation is decided entirely by markets and the profit motive.
Campaign Asks
An immediate stop to the sell-off of state and council housing
A $1 billion annual budget for the provision more state, public and not for profit housing
Setting minimum standards for all rented housing
Greater tenure protection for tenants
Rent freeze for five years
A statutory right to be housed
State subsidies for modest income homeownership programmes
Park up for Homes (2016)
In the height of winter 2016, as wind lashed and rain poured, the #ParkUpForHomes movement went to extra lengths to show that it is not tolerable for whānau to be braving this kind of weather without adequate housing to keep them safe and warm.
The #ParkUp movement consisted of peaceful protests. They all shared a common goal of seeing an increased Government response to the growing housing crisis and measures to create a better safety net for the most vulnerable who were being squeezed out of housing and into cars, garages and caravan parks. Demonstrations were family-friendly, and featured story-time for children, live music and a chance for sharing stories, poetry and speeches.
What started as a bright idea amongst a group of Mangere flatmates spread like wildfire across the nation. Demonstrations took place across the country in solidarity with those who, via circumstances beyond their control, were facing winter living in a car or garage.
Child Poverty Action Group supported the #ParkUpForHomes campaign and outlined a number of policy measures that would turn the crisis around.
CPAG Housing spokesperson Alan Johnson said it is encouraging to know so many Kiwis do care, and he hopes the Government does too.
"This growing problem of street and carpark homelessness will not disappear by simply re-zoning paddocks," says Johnson. "The Government should be throwing hundreds of millions of dollars into Housing New Zealand so that it can build more state houses on land it already owns."
#Parkup: Mangere (June 16)
The #Parkupforhomes team, in collaboration with Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), have officially invited all the members of Parliament and their families "park up" in their cars for the night in Mangere on June 16, 2016. Watch a video here.
Winter has arrived, and with it has come a growing public consciousness amongst all Kiwis that many families in our communities are without homes.
#Parkupforhomes spokesperson, Annaliese Johnston says that this community response is to show solidarity with those struggling.
"We believe that we have a collective responsibility to our most vulnerable and before we judge or impose policies we should take time to understand what it's like."
Johnston says there has already been an overwhelming response from the public for the #parkupforhomes initiative, and MPs have already been expressing interest in taking part.
"This response shows that the issue resonates with many people in our communities, as they care for those who doing it tough and want to do something to raise the awareness around this issue even further," says Johnston.
The organisers have collaborated with Child Poverty Action Group and will be recommending a series of policies for MPs to consider. The opportunity to discuss these points face-to-face with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet if they are able to attend would be warmly welcomed.
The night before, the #ParkUp Mangere action had over 1,000 people registered to attend. #Parkupforhomes coordinator Justin Latif says the enormous response shows that this is an issue close to many Kiwis’ hearts.
"Ordinary New Zealanders are saying what is being done for homeless people including many children is simply not enough," says Latif.
He says he never expected so many people to be willing to sleep in their cars during the middle of winter to show solidarity with those doing it tough.
"The fact this concept has gone viral shows that the Kiwi attitude of seeing all given a fair go is alive and well."
#Parkup: Otara (June 25)
In Otara, a team comprised of Manukau Institute of Technology students will be joined by local leaders, fellow students and families to park up and show their support for those doing it tough every night.
"This is a peaceful protest in a soon-to-be-announced location, where ordinary New Zealanders will be combining their voices to say that what is currently being done homeless people, many who are children, is simply not enough. We believe that we can do much better for them," says Emily Worman, a co-ordinator for #ParkupOtara.
A number of MPs have committed to attending #ParkUpOtara, including Su'a William Sio and Jenny Salesa and organisers hope other Government ministers are able to make the trip given they are currently on a Parliamentary recess.
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) are supporting the #ParkUpForHomes campaign and have outlined a number of policy measures they believe will turn this crisis around, including the Government putting its tax and dividend from Housing New Zealand back into social housing. CPAG spokesperson Alan Johnson says he is encouraged so many Kiwis do care and he hopes the Government does too.
"Homeless has been a growing problem for perhaps ten years and it will take another ten years to solve. To address these problems will take billions of dollars over the next decade and we need all the main political parties to commit to doing this," says Johnson.
#Parkup: Parliament (June 25)
The growing concern around the rise in numbers of families sleeping in cars and garages has inspired a group of Wellingtonians to join the Park Up For Homes movement and organise a #Parkup Parliament on Saturday June 25 at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul. The group will be parking up for a night in inner city Wellington to show solidarity with those doing it rough.
Once again, the #Parkup officials are extending the invite not only to the larger community, but also to local MPs, calling upon them to show up and spend a chilly night in their cars and experience what is a stark reality for a growing number of families for months on end.
#Parkup Parliament organiser Lydia Rillstone says homelessness is a growing problem in New Zealand, having increased by 116% over the past two years.
"We stand together peacefully to support the thousands affected nationwide, including children. New Zealand should be doing a much better job at addressing this. Those of us who are planning to park up nearby Parliament are emphasising that parties need to work together urgently on this, it is not just an Auckland issue," says Rillstone.
#ParkUp: Onehunga (July 2)
Hundreds braved wind and rain over the weekend to #ParkUp in Wellington and Otara in a show solidarity with those sleeping in their cars. And hundreds more are expected to #ParkUpForHomes in Onehunga this coming Saturday.
Kiwi boxing legend David Tua and his wife Helen are organisers of the Onehunga protest, along with Maungakiekie Tamaki Local Board member Josephine Bartley.
Tua says his hope for this Saturday is that protestors can send a clear message to Government that it’s time to "deliver a knockout" to our housing crisis and undertake meaningful measures to help the homeless.
"It's every Kiwis’ problem. That's why I'm doing it. We are all people and are connected to each other," says Tua.
"We live in Aotearoa, the best country in the world. It's ridiculous that we have people living in cars. We can do better."
A number of MPs attended #ParkUpOtara and #ParkUpParliament, including Su’a William Sio, Jenny Salesa, Metiria Turei and Grant Robertson. The organisers are hoping Government ministers will sleep in their cars at upcoming events to gain a better understanding of the reality for many New Zealanders.
#ParkUp: West Auckland (July 8)
After attending the recent Auckland #Parkup events, a group of supporters have decided to bring the protest west, to raise awareness for those who are regularly sleeping rough in New Zealand.
This movement of peaceful protests all share a common goal of seeing an increased Government response to the growing housing crisis and measures to create a better safety net for the most vulnerable who are being squeezed out of housing all together into cars, garages and caravan parks.
Yvonne Purcell, organiser of Parkup: West Auckland, said that she and her co-organisers wanted to bring support for those who need it most. "It’s the shared goal that unites us, because it’s happening out west as well. It is not right in a rich economy such as New Zealand has, for many to be going without," says Purcell.
"We need Government to make these people an urgent priority - and to ensure that money coming into housing infrastructure will mean affordable and healthy homes for those who need them most."
#Parkup: Hamilton (July 23)
#Parkup: Hamilton is being run by members of the Hamilton community. Annie Williams, one of the key organisers for #ParkUp: Hamilton has been speaking out about the lack of affordable housing for many years, and is concerned that the problem is getting worse.
"It’s just not right that we have such a problem with homelessness in New Zealand - and it’s not just in the bigger cities, it’s here too and it’s getting worse," says Williams.
"It should not be this way, and we should be doing more. Our Government has a responsibility to ensure that all children have the opportunity to the best possible start in life. We are failing them."
#Parkup: Napier (July 23)
Wai Tupaea, spokesperson for #ParkUp: Napier says homelessness is a New Zealand-wide issue, affecting more and more of New Zealand’s youth who are finding themselves on the street.
"This needs to be rectified urgently. Since 2011 the Hawke's Bay has lost 377 state houses. We have families still on the waiting list, and an augmented list of our brothers and sisters living on the streets," says Tupaea.
"We are committed as a movement to highlighting these issues. Enough is enough - our Government needs a solution to providing affordable and adequate housing for those who are in the most desperate need now."
#ParkUp: Parnell (August 25)
The #ParkUpForHomes protests will be drawing to a close over the next fortnight, with a final Auckland event happening this Thursday August 25, in the central suburb of Parnell. Organisers are hopeful that the final events will engage many in the mission to raise awareness of growing homelessness in New Zealand, to stand strong together and drive the message home that New Zealand will not tolerate these conditions. No family should be out in the cold when a country of wealth has the means to keep all safe and warm.
The #ParkUpForHomes movement of peaceful protests all share a common goal of seeing an increased Government response to the growing housing crisis and measures to create a better safety net for the most vulnerable who are being squeezed out of housing and into cars, garages and caravan parks. The family friendly rallies will include free entertainment and sausage sizzles.
#Parkup:Parnell is being run by members of the community, in association with Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG).
As supporters of the #ParkUpForHomes campaign, CPAG has outlined a number of policy measures the organisation believes will turn this crisis around.
Since the Park up for homes movement began, the Government has responded with a number of solutions, which though are helpful in the short-term, none has directly addressed the root causes of homelessness for families, namely inadequate incomes and the increasing cost of housing.
On July 2 Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett announced a paltry $9 million over two years in what the Governments says will “Deliver Better Housing Outcomes”.
“Half this budget is for community organisations to work with state tenants when they are in danger of losing their tenancies,” says Alan Johnson, CPAG spokesperson for housing.
“In effect the Government is paying NGO’s to stop a Government agency from evicting state tenants – this is just plain crazy.”
Mackenzie Valgre, spokesperson for the Parnell event, says, “There are children who are doing their homework in a van - where they live with the rest of their whānau. This is not only heartbreaking, but it proves a failure of our nation. It is time our Government faced those facts, and enacted the bold, radical change that is so desperately needed.”
#ParkUp: Palmerston North (September 2)
The #ParkUpForHomes movement has seen over 2000 people rally together in locations across New Zealand, standing for the rights of all Kiwis to have a safe, warm home to live in. This Friday, Park Up For Homes will hold its final protest event in Palmerston North, but organisers say: "This is not the end."
Success of the #ParkUpForHomes campaign can be measured by the increased public and media awareness of homelessness in New Zealand, and a notable change in the narrative about what being homeless really means. Homelessness in New Zealand is not about individuals 'not taking responsibility for themselves', it is about low-income families forced to sleep in cars because they simply cannot afford to rent a home privately. Social housing is not geared to accommodate the numbers in need.
According to Otago University research there are 41,000 New Zealanders without a place to call home, and 53% of that total is comprised of families and students. It is heartening to see charities and community organisations, such as Te Puea Marae and the Salvation Army working to urgently house many in need, but Government must be taking more responsibility to rectify the ballooning problem. To date however, they have provided nothing solid to improve the lives of those most affected by the housing crisis in New Zealand.
#Park Up For Homes: Palmy is being run by members of the community, in association with Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG).
The decision to have a #ParkUp event in Palmerston North was made by students from Ross Intermediate, led by 11-year-old Carly Atkins. This level of engagement on the subject of homelessness by young school children is evidence the brevity of the situation is resonating with New Zealanders from all walks of life. This is not the New Zealand our children want - and they deserve much better.
Carly says "We are looking forward to raising the issue of homelessness with the people of Palmerston North. Together we can make a difference."