Party policies, simplified: Housing

The General Election day is approaching on Saturday November 7. We reached out to political parties: National, Labour, Te Pāti Māori, ACT, New Zealand First, the Green Party, and The Opportunity Party, with the same questions across housing, transport, disability policy, funding, healthcare, education, education and accessibility.

On the topic of housing, we asked about their housing policies for disabled people and whether parties would reinstate a 15% target of accessible public housing.

In 2019, under a Labour government, Kāinga Ora adopted a target for at least 15% of their new social housing builds to meet full universal design standards. In May 2026, Chris Bishop, the minister of Housing for the current National government, announced that the target had been removed following Kāinga Ora’s focus on “financial sustainability and value for money.”

If re-elected, the National Party will not reinstate the 15% target for new social housing that meets universal design standards. A party spokesperson said Kāinga Ora continues to incorporate a range of universal design features into new and retrofitted homes, works with ACC and the Ministry of Health to design and deliver modifications such as ramps and wet-area showers, and has a budget of up to $2000 per tenancy for minor modifications, such as installing grab rails.

National adds that they will continue to develop and consult on clear definitions for what makes a home accessible, review the social housing system to help it better meet the needs of disabled people, and continue to “build on” initiatives like the Access Activator Pilot Programme to target practical accessibility solutions, including innovations connected to home environments.

The Labour Party is disappointed that the National Government dropped the target. At the D*List’s Disability Debate, Labour representative Priyanca Radhakrishnan said Labour is committed to bringing back the target and increasing it to 25%.

Meanwhile, if Te Pāti Māori or the Green Party are elected, they will reinstate the 15% target.

The Green Party would set “robust” universal design standards for public and private housing, introduce rent caps and a rental warrant of fitness, and end no-cause evictions.

Te Pāti Māori adds that they would “expand accessible public housing targets urgently.” The party would ensure that all new Government builds are accessible and designed to accommodate all whānau.

A spokesperson for ACT says that public housing should respond to the actual needs of people requiring it, “including ensuring accessible homes are available for disabled tenants who need them, rather than building to a centrally imposed quota.” If elected, the party would “reduce barriers to housing development, increase supply, and give disabled New Zealanders more choice about where and how they live” through their property-rights-based planning reforms. In September 2026, as part of the reforms, the Resource Management Act was replaced with two new pieces of legislation, the Natural Environment Bill and the Planning Bill.

NZ First did not respond to our questions with proposed policies. In the policy on their website, they say will prioritise social housing for citizens “first and foremost”.*

TOP did not respond to our questions. In their disability statement, they say they would steadily remove barriers in housing by "creating more homes that everyone can access and live in."*

Responses about past policies, or generic statements without indication of the party's own intention, actions or policies have been excluded.

Summary by party

*indicates policy found outside of questionnaire responses or policy announced after the party’s response was submitted.