Homelessness in New Zealand is a complex problem without a single solution. By working together with the government, we can find solutions. Homelessness includes people sleeping on the street, or in a car or shed, as well as those who are couch surfing or house jumping. Some people who have no options for acquiring safe, secure housing are without shelter, in temporary accommodations, sharing accommodations with a household, or living in uninhabitable housing.
People experience three main types of homelessness. The first is chronically homeless: People with multiple and complex needs who have spent more than a year living on the streets. The second type is episodic homelessness, in which people frequently fall in and out of homelessness and find it difficult to maintain stable housing or sustain a tenancy. The third type is transitionally homeless—most homeless people in New Zealand are transitionally homeless. This is often the result of a major life event, such as job loss, relationship or family breakdowns, or health issues.
To better understand the scale of unsheltered homelessness and people in temporary accommodations across New Zealand, Housing First Auckland, with the support and funding from Auckland Council, led the first region-wide Point-in-Time count in 2018, and the report was published by the New Zealand government.
This research was not just about counting the number of people living without shelter but also about understanding the experiences of different people. It was about collecting information and using it to improve services and support those who need them.
What is clear is that the cost and impact of homelessness on individuals, families, and society is high, and homelessness is one of the most severe forms of disadvantage and social exclusion a person can experience.
The report shares insights on homelessness using data and observations. It mainly focuses on people living without shelter, but also includes information on other types of homelessness. Most data is current to September 2025.
To put it into context, New Zealand’s population was estimated to be 5.35 million as of March 31, 2026, and the population is projected to reach 5.51 million by the end of the year, driven largely by migration. I live in Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand, with a population now estimated at 1.728 million. The next-largest city is Christchurch, and the third-largest is Wellington, our capital.
Key points from the report:
- Homelessness, particularly the number of people living without shelter, remains a challenge across New Zealand.
- The number of people living without shelter can change with the seasons, and winter can be particularly harsh.
- Homelessness affects many different parts of the population, including adult males, children, young people, older people, and Māori and Pacific peoples.
- Māori are particularly overrepresented among those living without shelter.
- Homelessness happens for many overlapping reasons. Providers have noted the increase and complexity of these, including addiction, mental health issues, domestic violence, trauma, and financial stress.
- Aside from an increase in unemployment, drivers such as population growth and rental inflation are easing, which may soften some of the barriers people face trying to access stable housing.
Our government has programs and services in place that aim to prevent people from living without shelter. The government has invested over $550 million in these programs, and in September 2025, announced five immediate actions to expand support for people who are sleeping rough and help them into homes in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, and Christchurch.
Homelessness is a global problem that governments cannot and should not ignore. No one wants to sleep in the streets. Certainly, in New Zealand and particularly in Auckland, homelessness is not ignored, and the authorities are trying to reduce the numbers.
