Commissioner Urges Recognition of Housing as a Human Right, Calls for Ombudsman

PHOTO: Specific vulnerable groups, including young people, refugee and migrant families, Māori, Pasifika, single parents, the elderly, and disabled individuals, were disproportionately affected. FILE

The Chief Human Rights Commissioner is urging the government to establish a housing watchdog in response to the persisting issue of people living in cold, damp, and mould-infested homes.

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After conducting a comprehensive two-year inquiry into housing in New Zealand, the Human Rights Commission has released its final report. Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt expressed concerns that despite the government’s commitment to binding international treaties, which include the right to adequate housing, insufficient measures have been taken to improve living conditions.

Hunt emphasized the need for stronger forms of human rights accountability within New Zealand itself, rather than relying solely on weak international mechanisms. The commission proposes the inclusion of the right to decent housing in domestic legislation, alongside the establishment of a housing ombudsman or commissioner to ensure accountability.

The report highlights that the recognition of the right to a decent home within domestic legislation, supported by an independent and agile accountability system, would have prevented the current housing crisis and the subsequent suffering endured by many.

The commission also recommends that policymakers integrate the right to adequate housing into their decision-making processes and appoint human rights, te Tiriti o Waitangi, and equity officers within housing agencies. This comprehensive approach aims to address the housing crisis and fulfill the fundamental right to housing for all individuals in Aotearoa New Zealand, regardless of the government in power.

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The inquiry found a significant decline in housing affordability over the past three decades, with a severe shortage of accessible housing. Rental properties, in particular, posed health risks due to issues such as mould and dampness, leading to numerous human rights violations within the emergency housing system.

Specific vulnerable groups, including young people, refugee and migrant families, Māori, Pasifika, single parents, the elderly, and disabled individuals, were disproportionately affected.

Hunt emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in viewing housing as a basic human right rather than a commodity. Merely increasing housing stock is insufficient; the dignity and well-being of individuals (whakamana tangata) must be at the core of the housing system.

In addition to calling for government and private sector accountability, the commission’s final report provides guidance for communities, individuals, organizations, and policymakers to uphold human rights, te Tiriti o Waitangi, and ensure the realization of the right to decent housing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

SOURCE: RNZ