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'Not working for taxpayers': Minister Chris Bishop on the new overhaul of social housing

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 21 May 2026, 6:45pm
Chris Bishop. Herald photograph by Jason Dorday
Chris Bishop. Herald photograph by Jason Dorday

'Not working for taxpayers': Minister Chris Bishop on the new overhaul of social housing

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 21 May 2026, 6:45pm

Ahead of Budget 2026, the Government has confirmed changes are coming to social housing costs.

State housing tenants will pay a minimum 30 percent of their income on rent - up from 25 percent from next April.

Accommodation supplements for private renters will increase.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop says the current system doesn't work for taxpayers or Kiwis on the list for social housing.

"There's actually a lot of people on the social housing register who'd like to get in, but can't, because we've got this system where people are essentially trapped in social housing. And we've got a view in society that it's a social house fore life, when it actually should be timely and temporary."

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