A government crackdown on abusive Kāinga Ora tenants has led to a dramatic rise in evictions and formal warnings, with Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka claiming the toughened stance is already driving improved tenant behaviour.
Following a March 2024 ministerial directive to scrap the previous government’s Sustaining Tenancies Framework — which allowed disruptive tenants to remain in social housing regardless of their behaviour — Kāinga Ora has begun enforcing stricter measures.
“Living in a taxpayer-funded home is a privilege,” Potaka said, noting that while most tenants are respectful, a small minority had been undermining communities with threatening, abusive, or damaging behaviour.
Over the past 10 months, 63 Kāinga Ora tenancies were terminated due to serious misconduct — a stark rise from just 11 terminations in the prior year, and only two under the previous government.
Formal written warnings have also surged, with over 1,460 issued so far in the 2024/25 financial year, marking a sixfold increase. The vast majority were first-time notices, but second and third warnings — which can trigger eviction — are also being issued when necessary.
The government also reports a sharp improvement in responsiveness to complaints. In January 2024, the average time to act on a complaint was 60 days; by April 2025, that had dropped to under 12 days.
Potaka said the data proves the new approach is working.
“Disruptive tenants are taking the warnings seriously. And when they don’t, we’re no longer tolerating it,” he said. He thanked Kāinga Ora staff for implementing the changes and handling difficult situations on the ground.
Image credit: Allan Vega
When are you going to change the name back to “New Zealand State housing” Potaka.
Too Right!
And then let’s have a crackdown and evictions in the Beehive over abusive and criminal tenant behaviour.