Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit New Zealand 1 in 5 (210,500) children lived in households with less than 50 percent of the median equivalised disposable household income (the measure of household income after taking into account household size, earnings and housing costs). In the first year of the pandemic 18,000 more children have been pushed into poverty. 

This petition is addressing the issue of children living in inadequate housing. The Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019 are a list of rules and regulations intended to be followed by landlords. These regulations were passed into law on July 1 2019 and these standards are the minimum requirements for rental properties for heating, insulation, draught stoppage, ventilation and moisture ingress. Even though this law is in place it is not always being upheld. 

We are lobbying the government to ensure that every home in New Zealand, especially households with children, are healthy homes. Homes that do not meet the regulation can prove detrimental to children's health. This winter many children are still living in inadequate housing and we want this to be the last one. We think the government needs to do more to ensure the standards are being met.