40793 (2025). Arena Williams to the Associate Minister of Housing

40793 (2025). Arena Williams to the Associate Minister of Housing: What is the average number of housing decline letters, if any, that applicants have been asked to provide by the Ministry of Social Development before being placed on the social housing register in the past 12 months?

Hon Tama Potaka: The Ministry of Social Development advises that a client must be at risk or in serious housing need to be eligible for social housing. The Ministry of Social Development further advises me that they have discretion to request evidence to establish housing need where it becomes apparent a client has not taken reasonable action to find a home. This evidence is not in a form of a housing decline letter but could be evidence such as housing applications through a rental company. There is no specific number of houses an applicant must have applied for to establish serious housing need as it will depend on the client's circumstances and the rental market in the area.