Kia ora M Quicken,
 
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 2/03/2026 requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982, the following:
 
Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,

There are two hostels that have undergone change of use from residential
to commercial;

1) House of Pirie (38 Pirie Street, Mt Victoria)

https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

2) Wellington Wibes Hostel, formerly House of Tawatawa (112 Quebec Street,
Owhiro Bay)

https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

The hostels are additionally in other platforms including AirBnB offering
long term stays over 28 days with 20 other occupants in any given time per
property making them classified as boarding houses.

And considering the below:

-
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
-
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
-
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Please provide:

A) Investigation reports on the properties compliance including Healthy
Homes Standard

B) Number of Residential tenancy Act / boarding house related complaints
received past two years

I would like to have this opportunity to understand whether the MBIE is
working to mitigate the risks similar to Loafers lodge without the need
for additional legislation.
 
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 30/03/2026, being 20 working days after the day your request
was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe. If you have any enquiries
regarding your request feel free to contact us via email to
[1][MBIE request email].
 
Nāku noa, nā
Ministerial Services
Strategy and Assurance
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 |  P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[MBIE request email]