Te Pāti Māori is urging the Government to address the growing Rangatahi Homelessness problem in Auckland after data shows a 53% increase in homelessness in the last quarter.

“The scale of this crisis is shameful. The Government cannot continue to distance itself from the consequences of its decisions while our babies sleep on the streets, in cars, and in parks around Auckland,” said Tāmaki Makaurau MP, Takutai Tarsh Kemp.

“This Government must take responsibility for the impact of its reckless decision-making, which has directly led to rangatahi sleeping rough on the streets.”

In the 2024 Budget, the Government cut $40 million from Māori housing providers and slashed $20 million from rangatahi transitional housing. In August, it made changes to emergency housing eligibility criteria, making it harder for rangatahi to access housing.

“Every dollar cut from kaupapa Māori services and from the lives of our most vulnerable is a deliberate act that undermines our communities’ ability to lead, heal, and build their futures.

“The Government is not solving the housing crisis. They are manipulating the numbers to make it appear as though they’re taking serious action—when in fact, they’re causing real harm.”

Kemp is urging the Minister of Housing to ensure tomorrow’s Budget includes tangible action to get rangatahi off the streets.

“There are incredible services in my electorate, like Mā Te Huruhuru, doing impressive mahi. But their ability to deliver for the growing need is capped.

“Our babies need tomorrow’s Budget to deliver resources for organisations to lead and continue their mahi to support our communities—to ensure our babies have a roof over their heads,” she said.

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