Assessing the Social Impacts of New Zealand Housing Reforms During the 1990s. A Paper for the Ministry of Social Policy Seminar Series, 25 October. The Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit, Wellington Waldegrave C. Stephens R. King P. 2003. Assessing

Throughout the twentieth century, and particularly since the late 1930s in New Zealand, there has been a recognition of the importance of housing to individual and social well-being, such that State involvement in housing provision has been a central part of welfare and social policies (Thorns 1988, Roberts 1992, Fergusson 1994). A particular feature of these policies from the 1930’s through to 1992, was the provision of state rental properties for low-income households, at income related rents. (Thorns 1986, Fergusson, 1994). The 1992 Housing Restructuring Act signaled a fundamental change in the way the state delivered housing assistance to low income households. The most notable of the reforms signaled by the 1992 Act involved a move from away from the provision of properties by the state at income related rents, to be replaced by a system of provision of properties at market rents, with direct income supplements to low income households. A new State Owned Enterprise (Housing New Zealand, or HNZ), replaced the previous corporation (Housing Corporation of New Zealand or HCNZ) in the administration of the state housing stock. The new body (HNZ) was charged wit