File photo. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The Chief Human Rights Commissioner wants the government to set up a housing watchdog because too many people are still living in cold, damp and mouldy homes.
The Human Rights Commission has released its final report after a two-year inquiry into housing in New Zealand.
Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt said while multiple governments had agreed to binding international treaties, which included the right to decent housing, not enough had been done to improve people's living conditions.
"Later this year the Human Rights Commission will be reporting to the United Nations about the failings of the government in relation to housing.
"But that form of accountability in the United Nations is very weak. What we need is forms of human rights accountability, including the right to a decent home, here in Aotearoa."
The commission wants to see legal recognition of that right within domestic law, as well as better accountability outside of the judiciary. That might look like a housing ombudsman or commissioner.
"That would place the right to a decent home for people and communities at the centre of the housing sector, and that is not happening at the moment."
Paul Hunt said while multiple governments had agreed to binding international treaties, not enough had been done to improve people's living conditions. Photo: Supplied
"If the human right to a decent home were in domestic legislation ... and if it was supported by a nimble, independent accountability system we would not have today's housing crisis and the immense suffering would have been avoided" - Paul Hunt
Hunt gave the current government credit for initiatives like the Healthy Homes Standards and the Housing Acceleration Fund, but said there was still a long way to go.
"What's become clear through this two-year inquiry is that successive governments have let all New Zealanders down, successive governments have not kept their human rights promises," he said.
"If there had been proper recognition of the right to a decent home some 20, 30 years ago in New Zealand, I very much doubt that the housing crisis would have arisen as it has."
Many homes, particularly rental properties, were at risk of making people sick due to mould and dampness, the inquiry found. Photo: 123RF
The commission also recommended policymakers integrate the right to a decent home into their processes, and the appointment of human rights, te Tiriti o Waitangi, and equity officers within housing agencies.
"From a human rights perspective, the government must use its maximum available resources to address the housing crisis and to ensure this fundamental right is being realised in Aotearoa New Zealand. That obligation remains no matter who is in government."
The commission's final report includes advice for communities and individuals to hold the government and private sector accountable, and for organisations and policymakers to ensure they uphold human rights and te Tiriti o Waitangi.
The commission's inquiry found housing affordability had significantly decreased over the last three decades, and there was a dramatic shortfall in accessible housing.
Many homes - particularly rental properties - were at risk of making people sick due to mould and dampness, and there were significant human rights breaches in the emergency housing system.
Young people, refugee and migrant families, Māori, Pasifika, single parents, elderly and disabled people were disproportionately affected.
A mindset shift towards seeing housing as a human right instead of a commodity was well overdue, Hunt said.
"It's not enough to just build our way out of the housing crisis. We need to ensure that dignity, whakamana tangata, is at the heart of our housing system."