Government to spend $100 million on housing the homeless in motels
Since the alert levels were introduced in New Zealand, the Government has paid for over 1100 additional motel units for people who are living rough and homeless. The new funding now brings this total to 1600 units. Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods says the $107.6 million funds will support homeless people throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. "Finding safe accommodation for our most vulnerable people through the COVID-19 pandemic has been a key priority for the Government. "People living rough or in accommodation where social distancing was not possible were especially vulnerable to COVID-19." As of this weekend, 876 units have people and their families living in them and they're also being supported with social services, Woods says.
Of the new funding, $31 million will provide wraparound services to support these people's needs. "Many of the people living in the motels have high and complex needs and it's crucial they get support. This Government investment will provide certainty for the people and whānau living in motels and the providers supporting them during this difficult time," she says. She added work is already underway to find more permanent housing for people who have been moved to motel units during the lockdown. "As the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, the Government's build programme and work with the construction sector will resume to bring on more housing at pace."
=========================================================
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
-
36.2% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
-
63.8% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Poll: Is Auckland’s economy improving?
The latest reporting from The Post suggests a wave of optimism for 2026. With interest rates finally heading south, businesses are feeling more positive. But for many on the ground, the real-world recovery feels a bit like a slow-moving commute on Auckland's motorways.
We want to know: Are you seeing signs of Auckland's economy improving in your industry or neighbourhood? Whether it's busier shops, new projects kicking off, or just a shift in the mood ...
-
17.4% Yes
-
65.8% No
-
16.8% A little
Loading…
