On Thursday, the government announced a shake-up to social housing by boosting weekly support for low-income renters by about $15.
To pay for the changes, the government will hike the rest for social housing tenants from 25% of their income to 30% — leaving them about $30 worse off each week.
The changes would start in Budget 2026.
Queenstown social housing resident Joel Rowlands has been relying on supported living to keep himself and his family fed and housed since his right wrist was fused following a skiing injury almost 20 years ago.
The father of four, who has lived in Queenstown his entire life, was a tradie by day and a musician by night for 18 years until his body gave out.
Mr Rowlands and his family are in social housing — his bank account this week was at zero after his bills were paid.
‘‘I started a car painting apprenticeship.
‘‘I was qualified by the age of 21 ... I’ve been working hard my whole life.
‘‘Now, we don’t even leave the house ... we pay the bills, make sure our kids are being taken care of ... we’re just surviving.’’
The changes would mean the family was forking out an extra $42 for rent per week.
He said it felt like social housing tenants and low-income renters were being pitted against each other when, in reality, the failing housing system and poverty trap was created by successive governments.
Longtime friends and people he had grown up with had been priced out of Queenstown a very long time ago, he said.
Mr Rowlands was worried his family would be next.
‘‘It’s really stressful and really gutting — it’s just like a never-ending s...storm nightmare.’’
Methodist Mission Southern director Laura Black said while it was great the government was recognising the disparity, she was ‘‘shocked’’ at how they were choosing to address it.
‘‘Taking $30 a week after rent out of people’s pockets towards more rent when they’re on benefits or working for families just seems like it’s going to cause ... more stress and distress.’’
Ms Black believed people did not realise, or could not comprehend, how little money people were truly living on.
Risks of poverty and the long-term effects were clear as day and New Zealanders had only to look as far back as the 1990s to see how it played out, she said.
‘‘Poverty and low incomes have a big correlation with lifetime difficulties for people — we saw that when child poverty doubled in the late ’80s and early ’90s under the Rogernomics changes.
‘‘I don’t understand how this is a good idea.’’
The charges will be paired with more stringent criteria for getting a social house and possibly new tenancy duration limits and regular check-ins.
Housing Minister Chris Bishop acknowledged the government could make the changes in a way that did not leave as many households worse off if ‘‘money was limitless’’.
But it was not, so the government had to make ‘‘tough choices’’.
The change would see 111,000 families not in social housing get an extra $14.91 on average per week, while 45,000 families would lose $10.82 on average a week.
For those in social housing, 84,000 families would be $31.02 worse off on average a week.
