OCDE - Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026 - Nueva Zelanda de 2026

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: NEW ZEALAND © OECD 2026

Summary of key data and information Summary of key data and information Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1) New Zealand has a definition for homelessness, without shelter, temporary accommodation, sharing accommodation and uninhabitable housing. Homelessness is defined as a living situation where people with no other options to acquire safe and secure housing are: without shelter, in temporary accommodation, sharing accommodation with a household, or living in uninhabitable housing. Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3) 112 496 individuals, representing 2.3% of the total population (2023) 51% are women, 48% are men Point-in-time count, derived from the Census of Population and Dwellings ETHOS Light groups included Included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing) Not included: • ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4) There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in New Zealand.

Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) • There is no national homelessness strategy in New Zealand. Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategy addressing homelessness: Government-Policy-Statement-on-

(Table 4) There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in New Zealand.

Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) • There is no national homelessness strategy in New Zealand. Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategy addressing homelessness: Government-Policy-Statement-onHousing-and-Urban-Development-for-2025.pdf Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6) • Census of population and dwellings: Census which includes a targeted strategy to include people experiencing homelessness (Table 6.1)

Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: New Zealand2  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: NEW ZEALAND © OECD 2026

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness Statistical definition Homelessness Homelessness is defined as a living situation where people with no other options to acquire safe and secure housing are: without shelter, in temporary accommodation, sharing accommodation with a household, or living in uninhabitable housing. Without shelter Living situations that provide no shelter, or makeshift shelter, are considered as “without shelter.” These include situations such as living on the street, and inhabiting improvised dwellings (e.g. living in a shack or a car). Temporary accommodation Living situations are considered “temporary accommodation” when they provide shelter overnight, or when 24-hour accommodation is provided in a non-private dwelling that is not intended to be lived in long-term. This includes hostels for the homeless, transitional supported accommodation for the homeless, and women’s refuges. Also included are people staying long-term in motor camps and boarding houses, as these are not intended for long-term accommodation Sharing accommodation Living situations that provide temporary accommodation for people through sharing someone else’s private dwelling are considered “sharing accommodation.” The usual residents of the dwelling are not considered homeless. Uninhabitable housing Living situations where people reside in a dilapidated dwelling are considered “uninhabitable housing.” Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation

considered “sharing accommodation.” The usual residents of the dwelling are not considered homeless. Uninhabitable housing Living situations where people reside in a dilapidated dwelling are considered “uninhabitable housing.” Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology Year Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals)(1) % of total population ETHOS Light 1 People living rough ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation(2) ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends 2018 99 462 2.1% 207 90 6 339 Not included 4 938 27 426 2023 112 496 2.3% 333 72 11 123 Not included 7 233 24 768

Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time • Data are comparable across years: No

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Yes o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: Yes ‒ Refugees: Yes ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes Note: 1. The 2023 headline estimate includes 68 967 people living in unhabitable housing (60 462 for the 2018 headline estimate).

2. For the purposes of the ETHOS Light typology emergency accommodation refers to night shelters.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Statistics New Zealand (2024), Census of Population and Dwellings.

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2023

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Statistics New Zealand (2024), Census of Population and Dwellings.

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2023 Single adults Men Women Youth (aged 15-29) Older people (aged 65 and over) Families with children (# of households) Headline estimate of homelessness NA 53 793 57 576 27 351 13 764 NA As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness NA 48.0% 51.4% 24.4% 12.3% NA ETHOS Light 1: People living

rough NA NA NA NA NA NA 3

DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: NEW ZEALAND © OECD 2026

ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation(1) NA NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless NA NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions NA NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings NA NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends NA 11 970 12 678 9 240 1 449 NA Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Yes o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: Yes ‒ Refugees: Yes ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive. In 2023 it was estimated 627 people of another gender were homeless. Figures in this table exclude Women’s refuge data, as well as estimates for children living in non-private dwellings. 1. For the purposes of the ETHOS Light typology emergency accommodation refers to night shelters.

Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive. In 2023 it was estimated 627 people of another gender were homeless. Figures in this table exclude Women’s refuge data, as well as estimates for children living in non-private dwellings. 1. For the purposes of the ETHOS Light typology emergency accommodation refers to night shelters.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021), Census of Population and Housing.

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness Legal framework Law that governs data collection on homelessness Data and Statistics Act 2022 Legal obligations Although there are no specific legal obligations relating to the collection of data on people experiencing homelessness, the census must take place every five years. Moreover, Māori (the indigenous people of New Zealand) must be engaged prior to determining the data to be collected in the census. Table 5. Homelessness strategy Homelessness strategies in place National Homelessness Strategy • There is no national homelessness strategy in New Zealand. Other (e.g. anti-poverty, housing) national strategy addressing homelessness: Government-PolicyStatement-on-Housing-and-Urban-Development-for-2025.pdf Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist No. Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness 6.1. Census of Population and Dwellings Description All people in New Zealand must fill out the Census questionnaire. Census field collectors also enumerate people experiencing homelessness at shelters and other easily identifiable locations. The census includes a number of questions on the housing situation of respondents. In 2023 “assist and deliver” approaches provided faceto-face contact, assistance, dedicated communications, and community driven activities. Non-private dwelling and transient populations approaches included a core pool of dedicated staff for standard, lar ge, and complex non private dwellings. On and around census day, co llection activities were largely focussed on transient populations and supporting censusform completions at community events. Transient populations include people experiencing homelessness, and people living in places like marinas an d mobile dwellings, or who are freedom camping. Because people m ay not remain

were largely focussed on transient populations and supporting censusform completions at community events. Transient populations include people experiencing homelessness, and people living in places like marinas an d mobile dwellings, or who are freedom camping. Because people m ay not remain in the same location for long, field staff made one visit, with no follow-up, and in a shorter timeframe than other collection activities.

Type of count generated Point-in-time Methods • Population census4  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: NEW ZEALAND © OECD 2026

• Street count • Service-based method Lead authority(ies) • Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa • Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Source(s) of information • General population respond to the questionnaire directly • National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges provided information on the number of people using their services on Census night Scope National level Depth of data Key demographic characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, disability indicator, rainbow/LGBTIQ+ indicator.) Frequency Every five years ETHOS Light groups included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing)

Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the da ta collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Notes and sources 2023 Census severe housing deprivation (homelessness) estimates | Stats NZ Methodology

collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Notes and sources 2023 Census severe housing deprivation (homelessness) estimates | Stats NZ Methodology

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housingdatabase.html.

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: NEW ZEALAND © OECD 2026

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