Tēnā koutou,

I am writing to make a request for the following information relating to the removal of the Kāinga Ora Sustaining Tenancies Framework, as directed by Ministers in March 2024.

The Government has publicly released aggregate data on the outcomes of this policy change — including 63 tenancies terminated for disruptive behaviour over 10 months, 1,463 Section 55A notices issued in 2024/25, and a reduction in total tenant rent debt from $21.6 million to $16.1 million. However, no ethnicity breakdown of affected tenants has been made publicly available. Given that Māori are disproportionately represented in Kāinga Ora housing, this information is important for assessing the equity impacts of this policy.

Please provide the following:

Tenancy terminations

1. The total number of Kāinga Ora tenancies terminated from March 2024 to the present, broken down by month and by reason for termination (disruptive/threatening/antisocial behaviour, persistent rent arrears, or other).

2. Of all tenants whose tenancies were terminated during this period:
(a) The number and proportion who identify as Māori.
(b) The number and proportion who identify as Pacific Peoples.
(c) A full ethnicity breakdown if held.

Section 55A notices

3. The total number of Section 55A notices issued from March 2024 to the present, broken down by month and by notice level (first, second, third).

4. Of all tenants issued Section 55A notices during this period:
(a) The number and proportion who identify as Māori.
(b) A full ethnicity breakdown if held.

Rent debt and arrears actions

5. The number of tenants who have had their tenancies terminated specifically due to rent arrears from March 2024 to the present, broken down by month.

6. The number of tenants who received rent debt reduction (debt written down to 12 weeks' worth) under the February 2025 policy, and the total dollar value of debt written off.

7. Of tenants whose tenancies were terminated for rent arrears, and separately of tenants who received the rent debt reduction:
(a) The number and proportion who identify as Māori.
(b) A full ethnicity breakdown if held.

Relocations and complaint resolution

8. The total number of tenancy relocations carried out due to disruptive behaviour or neighbour conflict from March 2024 to the present, broken down by month.

9. The number of open complaint cases and the average resolution time, on a monthly basis, from January 2024 to the present.

Policy and impact assessment

10. Any internal or external reports, briefings, evaluations, or reviews assessing the impact of removing the Sustaining Tenancies Framework, including any assessment of disproportionate impacts on Māori tenants or whānau.

11. Any correspondence or briefings between Kāinga Ora and the Minister of Housing or Associate Minister of Housing relating to the ethnicity of tenants affected by tenancy terminations, Section 55A notices, or rent arrears actions since March 2024.

12. The interim Letter of Expectations sent to Kāinga Ora on 18 March 2024, and any subsequent Letters of Expectations issued since that date.

I would appreciate receiving this information in electronic form. If you are unable to provide any of the above, please advise the grounds under the OIA for withholding.

Ngā mihi nui,
Jacqueline Paul