Tçnâ koe,

 

Thank you for contacting the office of Hon Tama Potaka, Minister of
Conservation, Minister of Mâori Development, Minister of Mâori-Crown
Relations, Minister of Whânau Ora, and Associate Minister for Housing
(Social Housing).

 

The Minister considers all correspondence important and appreciates you
taking the time to write.  Please note that as Minister Potaka receives a
large amount of correspondence it is not always possible to personally
reply to all emails.

 

The following guidelines apply:

 

• Portfolio related correspondence will be considered and responded to
where appropriate.

 

• If your message is for Minister Potaka’s advice, or if you have copied
your email to another Minister and/or Member of Parliament with more
appropriate portfolio responsibilities, then this will be noted.

 

• Invitations and requests to meet with the Minister will be processed as
soon as possible and a staff member will be in contact with you in due
course.  Please note this email is an acknowledgment that your
invitation/request has been received.

 

• If you have made a request for official information then this will
be managed in accordance with the provisions of the Official Information
Act 1982, which may include transfer to a more relevant Minister or agency

 

• If your email falls outside of the Minister’s portfolio
responsibilities, expresses a personal view, or is copied to multiple
Members of Parliament, then your opinion will be noted and your
correspondence may be transferred to another office, or there may be no
further response to you

•If your email expresses a personal view, or is copied to multiple Members
of Parliament, then your opinion will be noted and your correspondence may
be transferred to another office, or there may be no further response to
you.

• Media queries will be referred to the Minister’s press secretary.

 

Again, thank you for writing.

Office of Hon Tama Potaka

Minister of Conservation | Minister of Mâori Development | Minister of
Mâori Crown Relations | Minister of Whânau Ora | Assoc. Minister of
Housing – Social Housing

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tçnâ koe Ben,

On 06/09/2024 you emailed Hon Tama Potaka requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982, part of your request was for the following information:

• Are you able to advise whether every person presenting to MSD for Emergency Housing will have an official application process?

We have transferred this part of your request to The Ministry of Social Development as the information to which your request relates is not held by the Minister but is believed to be held by The Ministry. In these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the OIA to transfer your request.

Please note that according to sections 14 and 15(1) of the Official Information Act, the 20-working day response period is reset by the transfer and starts again on the day The Ministry of Social Development receives the transfer notification. We have notified The Ministry of the transfer today.

You will hear further from The Ministry of Social Development concerning your request in due course.

Ngâ mihi,

Teana Macdonald
Private Secretary (Administration)
Office of Hon Tama Potaka
Minister for Mâori Development | Minister for Whânau Ora | Minister of Conservation |
Minister for Mâori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti | Associate Minister of Housing

DDI: 04 817 6811 | EW4.5L
Email: [email address] Website: www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Atkinson <[FOI #28312 email]>
Sent: Friday, September 6, 2024 10:44 AM
To: Tama Potaka (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Request regarding information on officials collecting homelessness data in response to Parliamentary question 13 on August 22 2024

Dear Tama Potaka,

I am seeking official clarification of the following points based on the answer in the house to Question #13, August 22, 2024, where you stated, "Our officials continue to monitor homelessness very carefully" and "there are no substantiated reports or evidence of increased homelessness."

Can you please provide clarification on:
- Which department, in which agency is monitoring homelessness?
- How is this data being collected?
- Are officials collating data and comparing with the NGO sector's data?
- Will data on homelessness be publicly available on MHUD's dashboards?
- Are you able to advise whether every person presenting to MSD for Emergency Housing will have an official application process?

Yours faithfully,

Ben Atkinson

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #28312 email]

Is [Tama Potaka request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Tama Potaka? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________

hide quoted sections

Tēnā koe Ben Atkinson,

Thank you for your email received 19 September 2024 transferred from the Office of Hon Tama Potaka, under the Official Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate officials at National Office to respond.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Official Information Team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent
Ko ta mātou he whakamana tangata kia tū haumaru, kia tū kaha, kia tū motuhake

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Atkinson <[FOI #28312 email]>
Sent: Friday, September 6, 2024 10:44 AM
To: Tama Potaka (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Request regarding information on officials collecting homelessness data in response to Parliamentary question 13 on August 22 2024

Dear Tama Potaka,

I am seeking official clarification of the following points based on the answer in the house to Question #13, August 22, 2024, where you stated, "Our officials continue to monitor homelessness very carefully" and "there are no substantiated reports or evidence of increased homelessness."

Can you please provide clarification on:
- Which department, in which agency is monitoring homelessness?
- How is this data being collected?
- Are officials collating data and comparing with the NGO sector's data?
- Will data on homelessness be publicly available on MHUD's dashboards?
- Are you able to advise whether every person presenting to MSD for Emergency Housing will have an official application process?

Yours faithfully,

Ben Atkinson

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #28312 email]

Is [Tama Potaka request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Tama Potaka? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________

This email and any attachments may contain information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after transmission from the Ministry.

hide quoted sections

Kia ora,

On behalf of Hon Tama Potaka, Associate Minister of Housing, thank you for your correspondence. On 06 September 2024, you asked for clarifications about a statement Minister Potaka made in the House on 22 August 2024 during Question Time. In particular "[o]ur officials continue to monitor homelessness very carefully" and "there are no substantiated reports or evidence of increased homelessness."

I’m providing an answer to each of your questions below:

1) Which department is monitoring homelessness?

When the Minister made the statement “officials” he was referring to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the principal policy advisor to Cabinet around housing (including homelessness) and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) as the main point of contact for people who are homeless and require urgent accommodation through an emergency housing grant.

2) How is this data being collected? And will data on homelessness be publicly available on MHUD's dashboards?

MSD have regular engagement with housing and social service providers to test ideas and also gather information about what is happening at the local level. HUD also monitors homelessness to build a better understanding on what is driving homelessness that then feeds into policy development. HUD have a data and insights link on their website at Indicators of Homelessness - Te Tûâpapa Kura Kâinga - Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (hud.govt.nz) where you can see more data around homelessness. HUD’s data is based on Census data so it updates whenever a Census is held.

3) Are officials collating data and comparing with the NGO sector's data?

Yes, through their regular engagement with providers MSD discuss data they are seeing with what providers are seeing.

The question to raised about advice on people presenting to MSD for emergency housing having an application process has been transferred to MSD who will respond to you directly.

Ngâ mihi,

Huriwai Paki (he/him/ia)
Private Secretary, Housing | Office of Hon Tama Potaka

Minister of Conservation | Minister for Mâori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti |Minister for Mâori Development
Minister for Whânau Ora | Associate Minister of Housing
Email: [email address] Website: www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Atkinson <[FOI #28312 email]>
Sent: Friday, September 6, 2024 10:44 AM
To: Tama Potaka (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Request regarding information on officials collecting homelessness data in response to Parliamentary question 13 on August 22 2024

Dear Tama Potaka,

I am seeking official clarification of the following points based on the answer in the house to Question #13, August 22, 2024, where you stated, "Our officials continue to monitor homelessness very carefully" and "there are no substantiated reports or evidence of increased homelessness."

Can you please provide clarification on:
- Which department, in which agency is monitoring homelessness?
- How is this data being collected?
- Are officials collating data and comparing with the NGO sector's data?
- Will data on homelessness be publicly available on MHUD's dashboards?
- Are you able to advise whether every person presenting to MSD for Emergency Housing will have an official application process?

Yours faithfully,

Ben Atkinson

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #28312 email]

Is [Tama Potaka request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Tama Potaka? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________

hide quoted sections

To your first question, no. MSD and HUD hold contracts with providers for housing supply and services, and meet with providers to discuss policy development. They hear what is going on at a local level regularly including whether the policy changes made are having the intended, or unintended, effects.

To your second question, I'm not sure if officials have set comparable data but the Minister receives regular updates from officials both verbal and written. He also receives either correspondence or has meetings with the sector itself. Minister is engaging with providers across the spectrum including homelessness, emergency and transitional housing spaces and those providers raise issues/concerns. The providers are across the country and some are cohort specific (gender, youth, seniors, disability etc). Minister recently said to a collective of Auckland homelessness providers to keep engaging with him so he can see what's going on and where necessary make changes.

Hope this helps.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Atkinson <[FOI #28312 email]>
Sent: Friday, September 27, 2024 2:07 PM
To: Huriwai Paki <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Official Information request - Request regarding information on officials collecting homelessness data in response to Parliamentary question 13 on August 22 2024

Dear Huriwai Paki,

Thank you for your reply, is it possible to have further clarification on the below.

2. If HUD's data is based on Census data, then the statement that "there are no substantiated reports or evidence of increased homelessness." is only correct in the instance that the data has not been updated since Census 2023. Is this correct?

3. Are officials able to evidence this data that is collated from NGO's and used comparatively against Government Agency data? Specifically, if Minister Potaka is certain there is no evidence of increased homelessness, then where NGO data has shown increased homelessness, how has this been communicated to Minister Potaka.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Atkinson

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora,

On behalf of Hon Tama Potaka, Associate Minister of Housing, thank you for your correspondence. On 06 September 2024, you asked for clarifications about a statement Minister Potaka made in the House on 22 August 2024 during Question Time. In particular "[o]ur officials continue to monitor homelessness very carefully" and "there are no substantiated reports or evidence of increased homelessness."

I’m providing an answer to each of your questions below:

1) Which department is monitoring homelessness?

When the Minister made the statement “officials” he was referring to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the principal policy advisor to Cabinet around housing (including homelessness) and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) as the main point of contact for people who are homeless and require urgent accommodation through an emergency housing grant.

2) How is this data being collected? And will data on homelessness be publicly available on MHUD's dashboards?

MSD have regular engagement with housing and social service providers to test ideas and also gather information about what is happening at the local level. HUD also monitors homelessness to build a better understanding on what is driving homelessness that then feeds into policy development. HUD have a data and insights link on their website at Indicators of Homelessness - Te Tûâpapa Kura Kâinga - Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (hud.govt.nz) where you can see more data around homelessness. HUD’s data is based on Census data so it updates whenever a Census is held.

3) Are officials collating data and comparing with the NGO sector's data?

Yes, through their regular engagement with providers MSD discuss data they are seeing with what providers are seeing.

The question to raised about advice on people presenting to MSD for emergency housing having an application process has been transferred to MSD who will respond to you directly.

Ngâ mihi,

Huriwai Paki (he/him/ia)
Private Secretary, Housing | Office of Hon Tama Potaka

Minister of Conservation | Minister for Mâori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti |Minister for Mâori Development Minister for Whânau Ora | Associate Minister of Housing
Email: [email address] Website: www.Beehive,govt.nz Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #28312 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________

hide quoted sections

Kia ora anō Ben,

I'll reach out to HUD to see if there is a specific link.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Atkinson <[FOI #28312 email]>
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2024 10:01 AM
To: Huriwai Paki <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Request regarding information on officials collecting homelessness data in response to Parliamentary question 13 on August 22 2024

Dear Huriwai Paki,

Thank you for your reply. To clarify based on your answers.
MHUD hold data on homelessness which is collated at Census every 5 years.
Both MSD and MHUD hold housing contracts and meet with providers to discuss what happens at a local level and policy implications and there is at times communication direct to Minister.

Therefore, there is no ongoing tracking mechanism to capture any increase in homelessness outside of census data, is this correct? If there is, can you please give a specific link. The MHUD indicators of homelessness does not report on any data post 2022 (EH data).

Yours sincerely,

Ben Atkinson

-----Original Message-----

To your first question, no. MSD and HUD hold contracts with providers for housing supply and services, and meet with providers to discuss policy development. They hear what is going on at a local level regularly including whether the policy changes made are having the intended, or unintended, effects.

To your second question, I'm not sure if officials have set comparable data but the Minister receives regular updates from officials both verbal and written. He also receives either correspondence or has meetings with the sector itself. Minister is engaging with providers across the spectrum including homelessness, emergency and transitional housing spaces and those providers raise issues/concerns. The providers are across the country and some are cohort specific (gender, youth, seniors, disability etc). Minister recently said to a collective of Auckland homelessness providers to keep engaging with him so he can see what's going on and where necessary make changes.

Hope this helps.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #28312 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________

hide quoted sections

 

Tçnâ koe Ben Atkinson,

 

Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information
Act request.

 

Nâ mâtou noa, nâ

 

Official Information Team   |  Ministerial and Executive Services

Ministry of Social Development

 

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau

 

This email and any attachments may contain information that is
confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this
email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in
error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the
email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no
responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after
transmission from the Ministry.

Kia ora anō Ben,

Kia ora anō Ben,

Officials are currently working to improve the understanding around homelessness and its drivers.

Ngā mihi,
Huriwai.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Atkinson <[FOI #28312 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 16 October 2024 2:18 PM
To: Huriwai Paki <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Request regarding information on officials collecting homelessness data in response to Parliamentary question 13 on August 22 2024

Dear Huriwai Paki,

Has there been an update on this evidence?

Yours sincerely,

Ben Atkinson

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora anō Ben,

I'll reach out to HUD to see if there is a specific link.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #28312 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________

hide quoted sections

Tēnā koe Ben Atkinson,

Thank you for your email received 16 October 2024, under the Official Information Act 1982. Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate officials at National Office to respond.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Official Information Team | Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent
Ko ta mātou he whakamana tangata kia tū haumaru, kia tū kaha, kia tū motuhake

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Atkinson <[FOI #28312 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2024 2:18 PM
To: OIA_Requests (MSD) <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Ministry of Social Development | Your Official Information Act Request

Dear OIA_Requests (MSD),

Thank you for your reply.
Is every application and the outcome of that application recorded? Including applications that do not result in an assessment?

Is information on declines collected and publically available?

Yours sincerely,

Ben Atkinson

-----Original Message-----

Tçnâ koe Ben Atkinson,

Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information Act request.

Nâ mâtou noa, nâ

Official Information Team | Ministerial and Executive Services

Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau

This email and any attachments may contain information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after transmission from the Ministry.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #28312 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This email and any attachments may contain information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after transmission from the Ministry.

hide quoted sections

 

Tçnâ koe Ben,

 

Please find attached the Ministry’s response to your Official Information
Act request.

 

Nâ mâtou noa, nâ

 

Official Information Team   |  Ministerial and Executive Services

Ministry of Social Development

 

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whânau

 

This email and any attachments may contain information that is
confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this
email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in
error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the
email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no
responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after
transmission from the Ministry.