Priority One Policy Moves Over 2,000 Children from Motels to Secure Homes

In just one year since the launch of the Government’s Priority One housing policy, nearly 1,000 families—including more than 2,124 children—have transitioned out of emergency motel accommodation into stable, secure homes. The policy marks a significant shift in New Zealand’s approach to managing housing hardship, particularly for families with children.

Ending the Emergency Housing Crisis

Housing Minister Chris Bishop has described the mass use of motels as emergency housing under the previous government as “one of the biggest public policy failures in New Zealand history.” At its height, the system was costing taxpayers an estimated $1 million per day while simultaneously causing long-term social damage, particularly for children growing up in confined, unsuitable living spaces.

“The cost to taxpayers was a scandal, but the social cost for families trying to raise their kids from a motel room for months or even years on end was an absolute tragedy,” Bishop said.

What Is Priority One?

Launched in 2024, Priority One is a new housing categorization that gives families with dependent children who have spent 12 weeks or more in emergency housing top priority on the social housing waitlist. The intent was clear: fast-track the most vulnerable out of unsustainable motel living and into permanent homes.

“Getting this policy up and running was one of our key promises to New Zealanders and one of the most urgent issues we tackled as an incoming Government,” Bishop stated.

Since its implementation, thousands of children have been moved into warm, dry social housing, thanks to the combined efforts of Kāinga Ora, Community Housing Providers (CHPs), the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), and other agencies.

Remarkable Progress in Reducing Emergency Housing

The Government had originally set a target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing by 75% by 2030. That milestone has already been surpassed five years early. According to Minister Tama Potaka, the number of households in emergency housing fell from 3,342 in November 2023 to just 516 in April 2025, a staggering 84.5% reduction.

Even more striking is the decline in the number of children in emergency housing. In April 2024, 3,339 children were living in motels; by April 2025, that number had plummeted to 519.

“These numbers aren’t just statistics—they represent lives changed,” Potaka said. “The focus on supporting whānau with tamariki into better, stable homes could mean a world of difference for their health, school attendance, and long-term opportunities.”

Real-Life Impact

The success of Priority One is illustrated in stories like that of a family of six whose eldest child needed ongoing specialist medical care. After spending six months in a motel, the family was placed into a Kāinga Ora home, which provided not only better housing but access to comprehensive wraparound support services.

Better Tracking, Better Outcomes

Another key improvement has come through MSD’s upgraded tracking of emergency housing outcomes. For the first time, officials can now track where about 85% of families go after leaving emergency housing, whether that be social housing, transitional options, or private rentals.

In December 2024, of the households leaving non-contracted emergency housing:

• 37% transitioned into social housing (33% via Kāinga Ora, 4% via CHPs)

• 29% moved into transitional housing

• 19% secured private rentals with accommodation supplements

• 14% did not receive further housing assistance

This data-driven approach ensures more accountability and better-targeted resources for those still in need.

Looking Forward

With its early success, the Priority One policy has not only improved the lives of thousands but also reshaped how housing hardship is addressed in New Zealand. However, Ministers Bishop and Potaka stress that the work is far from over.

“We will continue to improve the housing system because there are thousands of deserving people out there just like this whānau, many of them on the social housing list just waiting to enjoy a better home,” said Potaka.

With the Government maintaining its focus on housing stability, improved tracking, and prioritizing vulnerable families, Priority One stands as a compelling model for proactive social policy in Aotearoa.