OIA26-CB032
Andrew Riddell
[FYI request #33853 email]>
Dear Andrew
Thank you for your email of 9 March 2026 to Finance Minister, Hon Nicola Willis,
requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
A Radio New Zealand report of your comments on the recently released report on
pay equity by the unofficial select committee includes the following attributed to you:
Willis said the coalition had built more new state homes this term than the last
government had in a "previously comparable period".
What are the start and finish dates of this "previously comparable period"
How many state houses were built in this period, and how many have been built in
this term of government?
When giving the numbers of state houses constructed, please categorise the state
house numbers as houses that add to the state housing stock and houses that
replace older state houses.
Your request was transferred to me for a response, as the information you have requested
align more closely with my responsibilities as Minister of Housing.
The information you have requested is publicly available on the Ministry of Housing and
Urban Development’s website. It is available at:
www.hud.govt.nz/stats-and-insights/the-
government-housing-dashboard/public-homes. I have provided the net increase in homes across both Kāinga Ora – Homes and
Communities and Community Housing Providers (CHPs) below, as that appears to most
closely align with your request. Net increase captures the increase in stock over a given
time period, taking into consideration any homes decommissioned.
October 2017 – October 2020 (3 years)
net increase of 6,293
November 2023 – November 2025 (2 years)
net increase of 7,049
At the time the statement was made, data from November 2025 was the most recent
available from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). Data is taken from the end of
each month (for example, October is at 31 October). Net increase in social homes
excludes leases from Kāinga Ora to CHPs.
In addition to the above, Budgets 2024 and 2025 provided funding for more than 2,000
additional social housing places to be delivered by Community Housing Providers before
the end of the 2026/27 year.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of my response by the
Ombudsman, in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. The relevant details can be
found on the Ombudsman’s website at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. Yours sincerely
Hon Chris Bishop
Minister of Housing
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