Emerging Needs
Communities across Aotearoa continue to face rising pressure across income, housing, food security, health and employment, calling Visionwest to respond courageously to these present realities. Guided by the voices and lived experiences of whānau, Visionwest shapes an integrated, evidence-led response that honours dignity and strengthens hope. We walk alongside whānau with compassion, empathy and a deep commitment to justice.
These figures represent real people, real whānau, and real communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Visionwest remains committed to building hope together, delivering services and advocacy that uphold mana, strengthen belonging and support whānau to shape their own futures.
Social Housing
New Zealand’s social housing supply remains constrained, making up 3.8% of all housing stock compared with an OECD average of 7%. More than 19,000 applicants remain on the public Housing Register, demonstrating sustained and growing need for secure and affordable homes.
Homelessness
Homelessness persists as a problem in cities all around the motu. In our nation’s largest city, Auckland Council’s most recent data identifies 590 known homeless people in Auckland as at May 2026, highlighting the sustained need for accessible housing and joined-up support across the city.
Older Person Poverty
Rising living costs is placing new demands on older New Zealanders, especially renters and people with limited assets. The Older Persons Poverty Monitor records 102,000 people aged over 65 living in income poverty after housing costs, while 25,000 are living without essential items needed for a decent standard of living.
Disability and Deprivation
Disabled people experience higher levels of hardship across income, housing and daily living costs. Disabled children experience material hardship at almost twice the rate of non-disabled children, while disabled people are more than twice as likely to experience severe housing deprivation. Households with at least one disabled adult experience in-work poverty at 9.5%, compared with 6.6% for households without a disabled adult, showing that paid employment does not fully protect this group from hardship.
Financial Security and Material Hardship
Poverty and material hardship remain persistently high, with child poverty still falling short of national targets. Tamariki Māori, Pacific children and disabled children experience the greatest impact, with material hardship affecting more than one in four Māori and Pacific children and around one in five disabled children.
Older People and Housing
New Zealand’s population is ageing rapidly, bringing growing pressure on housing security and connection. Around 147,000 older people live in homes they do not own, while 52,000 spend more than 40% of their income on accommodation costs.
Youth Homelessness
More than 33,000 children and young people live in severe housing deprivation, including uninhabitable homes, temporary accommodation, overcrowded households, and situations where they have no shelter. These housing pressures contribute to rising youth homelessness and make it harder for rangatahi to sustain education, employment, wellbeing and connection.
Health Needs for Older People
Cost creates a significant barrier to healthcare for older people, with almost one in five people aged over 65 delaying a doctor or dentist’s visit due to cost. Māori and Pacific older people experience the greatest barriers, reinforcing how financial pressure can deepen inequities in health and wellbeing.
Unemployment and Youth Employment
Unemployment reached 5.4% in the December 2025 quarter, while 13.3% of rangatahi aged 15 to 24 were outside employment, education, and training in the same period. Coordinated pathways that connect young people with skills, employment and ongoing support can build stronger opportunities for rangatahi and their whānau.
Food Support and Insecurity
One in three New Zealand households experienced food insecurity during the past 12 months. Pacific and Māori households experience the greatest pressure, with 64% of Pacific people and 51% of Māori people reporting moderate to severe food insecurity, alongside 70% of sole-parent households. More than 912,000 people received food assistance through the Aotearoa Food Parcel Measure in the year to June 2025, showing the scale of support communities are providing as living costs place pressure on household budgets.