It turns out kicking homeless people out of motels increases homelessness

Briefly for all subscribers, the key things to know from Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Thursday, July 24 are:* Housing Ministers Chris Bishop and Tama Potaka have finally released an official Homelessness Insights report sent to Ministers in June. It shows rough sleeping has risen between around 25% and 225% in our biggest cities in the last year since the Government started shutting down emergency housing in motels and tripled its rejection rate for housing grant applications to over 30%.* I spoke with Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson last night about the report in the podcast above and in the video below. She said rough sleepers with pneumonia and on dialysis had been rejected for emergency accommodation because they were deemed to have contributed to their own homelessness. She said some slept during the day in Auckland at the moment because it was too cold to sleep at night. See more below in The Lead, the podcast above, the video below, Charts of the day and Docs of the Day below. * PARS (the Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Service) for Taranaki was quoted in the report as describing “unsustainable couch surfing of those who are more vulnerable than our actual rough sleepers, as their bodies are transactional (whether through sexual acts or used to commit crimes on behalf, etc)”. * The UN’s highest court last night ruled developed nations must comply with their international commitments to curb pollution or risk having to pay compensation to nations hard hit by climate change. Reuters See more in Climate Picks ‘n’ Mixes.* The Public Services Commission scrapped its Integrity board to save money, Andrea Vance reports for The Post-$ this morning. Also, Nicola Willis was only told yesterday that RBNZ Chair Neil Quigley sent then-Governor Adrian Orr a ‘please explain’ letter about his shouting at officials in meetings in February, Jenee Tibshraeny reports for NZ Herald-$. See more in the Scoops Pick ‘n Mix.* Today’s must-read is by from David Williams for Newsroom: Who Benefits: The power of the farm lobby, part one. See Picks ‘n Mixes belowPaying subscribers normally hear more detail, analysis and commentary in the podcast above and get the links and sourcing below the paywall first, along with my full Picks ‘n’ Mixes for this morning. But given the importance and pubic interest in the main topic, I’m opening it up immediately and fully for all to read, listen and share. Usually, I ask paying subscribers to give it more than 100 likes before I open it up later in the day.Homelessness up 25% to 225% after motel clearances Yesterday the Government finally released the Housing and Urban Development Ministry’s (HUD) Homelessness Insights report for June. It shows local outreach services, councils, Corrections, Health NZ and report rough sleeping has risen 25%-225% since the Government changed its policies to shut down emergency housing in motels and toughen its criteria for putting people into social housing.HUD collated a variety of data more detailed and recent than from the 2023 Census, which found 4,965 people were sleeping rough or in cars, up from 3,624 in 2018, including that:* Auckland Council said outreach services found 809 people were sleeping rough at the end of May, up 89% from September 2024;* Tauranga Council said its call centre recorded reports of 619 homeless people in 2024, up 46% from 423 in 2023;* PARS Taranaki estimated the number of rough sleepers in Taranaki more than tripled to 35 in December 2024 from 10 in June 2024;* Porirua Council said its quarterly audits found the number of rough sleepers almost trebled to 18 by March 2025 from 7 in March 2024;* Whangārei District Council said public reports of homelessness rose 56% to 1,066 in 2024 from 680 in 2023, and it forecast 1,200 for 2025;* Wellington’s Downtown Community Ministry reported 328 homeless people in the March quarter of this year, up 5% from a year ago, while rough sleepers rose 24% to 141 in that period;* Christchurch City Mission report its outreach workers found 270 rough sleepers in the six months to March 2025, up 73% from 156 in the previous six months;* Corrections had reported at least 350 people who had just left prison had no fixed abode;* Hospital Emergency Departments reported 64 people had presented at EDs in the month of November 2024, up 88% from 34 in November 2023;* Health NZ reported homeless people had been forced to stay in hospital facilities for 954 total nights in the month of December 2024, up 42% from 669 in December 2023;* the chart below showed the number of mental health patients reporting they were homeless rose to around 650 in December 2024 from 570 in December of 2023; and,* MSD had reported its rejection rate for Emergency Housing grant applications rose to over 30% from 10% in the year to March 2025.Charts of the dayI spoke to Helen Robinson last night about the report. The detail is here in video form and in the attached transcript.My Pick ’n’ Mix Sixes for Thursday, July 24My Top Pick ‘n Mix Six* HUD: Homelessness insights report June 2025* Scoop by Jenee Tibshraeny for NZ Herald-$: Insider spills beans on Adrian Orr’s resignation – Treasury confirms an allegation & Chairman Quigley responds* Jenee Tibshraeny interview with Heather du Plessis-Allan on NewstalkZB: Did Treasury raise concerns about Adrian Orr's conduct?* Investigation by David Williams for Newsroom: Who Benefits: The power of the farm lobby, part one* Investigation by Nicholas Jones for Stuff: No symptoms. No warning. How a Kiwi’s cancer was found - and how a stranger might save her. Anna Greenwood’s cancer diagnosis shocked her - she felt so well she wondered if she’d been told someone else’s test result.* Reuters: In landmark opinion, World Court says countries must address climate changeThe Best of the RestScoops & news breaking this morning* Andrea Vance for The Post-$: Public Service Commission scrapped integrity board to save money. The decision to dump the ethics advisory board after its 18-month term prompts warnings about the erosion of public sector impartiality.* Tom Hunt for The Post-$: ‘Supercity’ back on table as council bosses agree reform inevitable. * Rob Stock for The Post-$: Push for 'super complaints' system to protect NZ consumers. Frustrated financial mentors say NZ needs to follow the example of the UK and Australia to reduce the flouting of consumer protection laws.* Guyon Espiner for RNZ: Alleged ties between NZ First and vaping companies a 'dangerous risk' to New Zealanders, anti-vape group warns* Marc Daalder for Newsroom Pro-$ (free from tomorrow): Minister seeks advice on restricting seabed miningPolitics* Glen McConnell for Stuff: The bill taxpayers could get for closing Te Pūkenga* Analysis by Laura Walters for Newsroom: Butter saga a smear on supermarket competition and social licence* Giles Dexter for RNZ: Government orders Sport NZ to scrap transgender inclusive guidelines* NewstalkZB: Govt’s 500 extra police officer target delayed again as Aus poaching campaign considered* Giles Dexter for RNZ: 'Butter is expensive right now. There's no getting away from that* Kate MacNamara for NZ Herald-$: How Govt sliced $200m off the cost of new Waikato medical schoolGeopolitics* Reuters: EU, U.S. heading towards 15% tariff deal, EU diplomats say* Una Galani for Reuters: Japan trade deal breaks US tariff template* Reuters: Record heat in China strains power grid, stirs health fears* Reuters: Gaza facing man-made 'mass starvation', says WHO's Tedros* WSJ-$: Probe of Davos Founder Finds Pattern of Workplace Misconduct* Teitimoana Tairi for Cook Island News via RNZ: Mark Brown defends deal with China: 'If we can't get help from NZ, we will go somewhere else'Economy & Business* Greg Ninness for Interest: Big drop in the number of twenty somethings coming to NZ on work visas * Nick Stride for Interest: Does Netflix NZ make $11m p.a? Google it! After a tip off, the Companies Office is asking Netflix NZ to explain its lack of reporting* Mandy Te for Interest: Tower to end multi-policy discounts* David Hargreaves for Interest: Bank mortgage switching hits new high* Terry Baucher’s podcast for Interest:Thinking outside the box Roger Douglas on the future shape of the tax system. Plus pros and cons of raising GST to 18%* RNZ: International visitor numbers back to 93% of pre-Covid figures - DOCHousing* Julia Gabel for NZ Herald: ‘It’s clear we have a real problem’: Homelessness 'appears' to be outstripping population growth* Lane Nichols for NZ Herald: Building inspection reports ‘poor quality’, says judge* Op-Ed by Amanda Robertshawe for Crux : Are we ready for this? The true size and scale of Queenstown's Ladies Mile development* David Slack for Greater Auckland’s substack: Let’s go there now: the future of our urban villages* Ruby Shaw for ODT-$: First properties in affordable housing initiative hit market* Mildred Armah for Stuff: Meet the teens transforming derelict homes in South Auckland. Transport, Infrastructure & Councils* Alisha Evans for LDR via Sunlive/NZ Herald: LGNZ backs Tauranga mayor's call for council structure review* 1News: Thousands of potholes needing two or more rounds of repairs. Labour claims the Government's "pothole patrol is a failure".* Emily Ireland for LDR via Stuff: A long and fraught journey to upgrade Featherston’s wastewater treatment plant has reached a significant milestone, with a 10-year consent application now resting in the hands of commissioners.* RNZ: Councillor trys again to ban helicopters in residential areas* Gwynn Compton on his substack: Local government's shrinking sphere of influence* Op-Ed by Auckland Uni’s Tim Welch for The Conversation: Auckland is NZ’s ‘primate city’ but its potential remains caged in by poor planning and visionHealth & Education* Ruth Hill for RNZ: No national funding for programme that could get patients off surgery waitlists* Samantha Gee for RNZ: Nelson Hospital review dismissed as a 'plan to make a plan'* RNZ: Delays at Nelson hospital becoming "dangerous"* 1News: Review uncovers 'significant' staffing issues at Nelson Hospital. * RNZ: Secondary teachers union rejects lowest pay offer ever* John Gerritsen for RNZ: We've been pretending education system is 'great' - Ministry documentPoverty, Justice, Crime, Living Costs & Incomes* Vera Alves for NZ Herald: We're a nation of five million cows, so why are we paying so much for butter?* Max Frethey for LDR via 1News: Issues with Nelson's 'streeties' prompts new call for a shelter. * RNZ/Newsroom’s The Detail: The never-ending visa queue for a visa* Victoria Young for BusinessDesk-$:Business of Food: What we’ve learnt* Cate Macintosh for The Press-$: Junk food ads near schools feature supersized portions - study. Larger than life burgers, fries and “snack boxes” promoted on bus stops near schools are helping normalise over-consumption of unhealthy foods among children, researchers say.* OpEd by Jennifer Summers, John Kerr, Michael Baker & Nick Wilson for Public Health Communication Centre: Comparing the Covid-19 response and major outcomes in island nations Taking early and strong action helped high-income island countries like NZ and Australia do better in both health and the economy.Climate & Environment* Op-Ed for Waikato Uni’s Nathan Cooper & Jennifer Campion for The Conversation: Do countries have a duty to prevent climate harm? The world’s highest court is about to answer this crucial question* Daan Walter, Sam Butler-Sloss & Kingsmill Bond for The Electrotech Revolution: The long march of electrification* Column by Simon Wilson for NZ Herald-$: 'The scariest thing yet'? Calling out Groundswell's scare tactics* Column by Richard Harman for NZ Herald-$: Richard Harman: Groundswell's influence grows amid climate policy debate* Hamish Maclean for ODT-$: No ‘winner’ on options for South D* David Hill for LDR via RNZ: Why this town's lake is causing a stinkGood News & solutions* Torika Tokalau for LDR via Stuff: Auckland Council defends alcohol rule shakeup* 1News: Napier homeless night shelter providing a 'better quality of life’. Named Āhuru Mōwai as a "warm, calm haven", the shelter would provide short-term refuge initially for some of the city's most vulnerable men as winter deepens.* Moana Ellis for LDR via RNZ: Elation as Whanganui gets voice in fast-track seabed mining decision* Amy Williams for RNZ: Robin Hood supermarket plans to deliver profits back to foodbanks* Layla Bailey-McDowell for RNZ: New whare grounded in te ao Māori offers healing and hope for young parents* RNZ: Auckland high school students help refugeesDocs of the day* Chris Bishop & Tama Potaka statement via Beehive: Ministers release Homelessness Insights Report* Michael Reddell blog posts: Bad behaviour: Orr, Quigley, and the rest & Willis and Quigley questioned* Teletrac Navman: 2025 Construction Industry Report* Meat Industry Association: New red meat export strategy launched as latest analysis reveals $1.5 billion annual cost of non-tariff trade barriers* Tony Alexander’s monthly survey of rental property investors for Crockers.* Cotality (CoreLogic) July Housing Market Chart Pack: Rental market softens tipping in favour of tenantsCartoon of the day: ‘Let me be clear…’Ka kite ano, Bernard This is a public episode. 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