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Manaaki Rangatahi Youth Homelessness Collective

Presented by: Bianca Johanson

13 May 2026

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Rangatahi Experiencing Homelessness

Young people make up a high proportion of our overall homelessness statistics with more than half younger than 25 (MHUD, 2023)
The Growing Up in New Zealand study (2023) found that rangatahi Māori and Pacific young people were more likely to live in private rentals or public housing, experience poorer housing conditions, severe housing deprivation and more frequent and involuntary moves than European young people.
Rates of severe housing deprivation were highest among young Pacific peoples and young Māori (Stats NZ, 2020)
Many rangatahi are living at home longer with their whānau

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Wai 2750 Housing Policy and Services Inquiry

Kāinga Kore: The Report primarily evaluates the Crown's response to Māori homelessness

“We therefore find that the Crown has breached the principle of active protection in its response to rangatahi homelessness Not only has it failed to take particularly vigorous action to protect such a vulnerable group, but it has in fact taken little direct action to support this cohort at all.

We also find that the Crown has breached the principle of good government through its failure to obtain adequate data on rangatahi. Had it done so, it may have been able to calibrate its policies accordingly” (p.176)

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The Whakapapa of Manaaki Rangatahi

2015: A Silent Crisis

Only 2-3 youth housing providers in Aotearoa�
No urgent response to growing youth homelessness

Manaaki Rangatahi begins:

Started In Lifewise�
Collective roots in Tāmaki Makaurau

My journey (2019):

Found a divided, under-resourced sector�
Met with every youth service in Auckland�
Advocated for collaboration over competition

�

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How We Work

SHARE

IP, housing typologies, design models, wānanga & application processes freely shared with any interested group

CONNECT

Coordinated access rōpū links rangatahi to housing within and beyond the collective via a single referral pathway

BUILD

Support community kaupapa groups to become housing providers –sharing information, processes & systems

ADVOCATE

Policy influence, RFP advocacy, Wai 2750, media, arts & national forums to drive systemic change

RESEARCH

Accurate kaupapa Māori-informed data on youth housing challenges across Aotearoa

GOVERN

Poutokomanawa rōpū shapes strategy; rangatahi rōpū holds governance –young people lead the collective

Using these principles is how we have created collectives that work in Kotahitanga, it is how we have been successful in coming together large and smaller kauapap flax roots organisations to advocate for our calls to action- at the heart of what we do is Kotahitanga, aroha and of course Manaaki- how we act towards one another and with each other in the many hui and wananga we have is a practice and leadership model for all- it is by no means perfect and there is a fluidity to how we allow people to come in and out of the kauapapa as they need to, currently we do not practice membership per se we are finding an indigenous kaupapa model that works for us – our main ethos for collective members is participation – mahi alongside the kaupapa, inclusions and Manaaki mai, Manaaki atu-

Mentioned on the slide here these are all important pou that make up Manaaki rangatahi a collective like no other – where the mahana and strength to relationships allows us to unite so that we can mahi tahi together for our rangatahi.

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The Crisis: Key Data�More Than A Home Report | Mā Te Huruhuru & Manaaki Rangatahi Collective, 2025

112,000

People homeless in Aotearoa

- 2023 Census

5,000+

Living with no shelter at all

- 2023 Census

60%

Of homeless M āori are under 25

- 2018 Census data

>50%

Of homeless are young people

Under 25 years

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More Than A Home – Key Findings

Youth homelessness in Tāmaki Makaurau is a generational failure, not just a crisis
Rangatahi are disproportionately impacted by housing affordability and systemic inequalities • 90% increase in homelessness in Auckland since 2023
Queer & gender-diverse rangatahi are a recurring, underserved group
Care-to-homelessness pipeline is a critical driver
System barriers: no ID, no bank account, past evictions, criminal history block access
No focused youth homelessness strategy or official data exist

Dedicated youth homelessness strategy with clear targets & accountability
Age-appropriate, culturally responsive housing options in every region
Youth-specific Kāinga Ora homes & papakāinga developments
Lower tenancy sign age to 16–17 so rangatahi can access public housing
Change tenancy succession rules –rangatahi should not lose homes when whānau die
Remove exclusionary criteria (evictions, no ID, criminal history)
Increased investment in wraparound support: mental health, life skills, employment, education

Calls To Government

What the Report Found

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The Power of Collective Impact

What we have achieved together:

✅ First kaupapa Māori youth housing�✅ First Pasifika youth housing�✅ Teen parent-specific housing

✅ Policy wins: youth-specific tenders�✅ Youth housing roles in govt agencies�✅ Youth voice in National Homelessness Action Plan

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Wahine Homelessness

We are very proud that there are rangatahi wahine spaces available in some youth housing – especially in Tāmaki

Bespoke – smaller rangatahi housing is the way forward and ensures that rangatahi continue to have a choice in where they stay.

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