A New Zealand report says state housing is twice as costly as private rentals and urges selling homes to improve affordability and efficiency.

A New Zealand report challenges the government’s large-scale ownership of social housing, finding state housing costs nearly twice as much as private rentals and calling for reforms. Authored by Dr. Bryce Wilkinson of the NZ Initiative, it argues that selling homes to community groups, iwi, private landlords, or tenants—along with expanding housing vouchers—could improve affordability, tenant choice, and financial efficiency. The report highlights struggles with rent arrears and management, suggesting that effective housing support doesn’t require government ownership. These recommendations come as Kāinga Ora plans to maintain around 78,000 state homes, sparking debate over the best path to address housing needs while reducing taxpayer burden.