Скачать или смотреть Health at Risk: The Human Cost of Inadequate Housing in Aotearoa

Housing is more than just a place people reside, it is the foundation for health, dignity, and social wellbeing. Yet in Aotearoa New Zealand, inadequate housing remains a persistent crisis, with profound consequences for individuals, whānau, and the health system. Around one-third of homes are too cold in winter or too hot in summer (Statistics NZ, 2020), while many others are damp, mouldy, and overcrowded. These conditions are directly linked to preventable illnesses such as asthma, respiratory infections, rheumatic fever, and poor mental health outcomes.

The human cost of inadequate housing is most starkly seen among Māori and Pasifika children, who face disproportionately high rates of hospitalisation linked to housing conditions. This inequity reflects ongoing issues from colonisation and systemic barriers to safe and affordable housing.

The economic cost to the public health system is substantial: an estimated $141 million per year is spent on treating illnesses caused by cold, damp, and overcrowded homes, including $35 million in hospital admissions (Howden-Chapman et al., 2021).

Despite this, evidence shows that solutions are both achievable and cost-effective. Programs such as the Healthy Homes Initiative and Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority’s (EECA) housing retrofits for insulation and heating have demonstrated measurable improvements in child health and wellbeing, while reducing hospital costs. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and New Zealand researchers argue that stronger housing standards, better enforcement, and equity-focused policies could transform outcomes nationwide.

This presentation from our kaimahi Melanie explores the historical, social, and economic dimensions of housing and health in Aotearoa. It highlights the lived realities of families affected by inadequate homes and the disproportionate burden on low income, Māori, and Pasifika communities, and the urgent need for joined-up housing and health policy.

The central message is clear: housing is healthcare. Ensuring warm, dry, and safe homes for all New Zealanders is not only a matter of human rights and equity — it is an investment in the health, wellbeing, and future of our nation.