DoomsdaysCW#Aotearoa / #NewZealand - Budget 2026: #Rangatahi abandoned as #homelessness hits record levels - youth advocates
by Layla Bailey-McDowell, Māori News Journalist
5/28/2026
"A youth homelessness agency says Budget 2026 has 'abandoned' #Rangatahi experiencing homelessness, as new data shows homelessness in Aotearoa is at its highest level ever.
"Youth housing collective Manaaki Rangatahi pou ārahi (chief executive) Bianca Johanson described the Budget as 'an ivory tower budget', saying young people and #whānau struggling through the #CostOfLiving crisis had been ignored.
" 'I heard [critics] call this the abandonment budget. They have abandoned us and that's how it feels,' Johanson said.
" 'There is just more picking on the poor, making things tougher for those that are already just finding it hard to survive daily."
"It comes as a new report from Community Housing Aotearoa found homelessness had reached its highest recorded level in Aotearoa, with more than half of those experiencing homelessness under the age of 24.
Homelessness reaches highest levels in history, Community Housing Aotearoa report finds
"The report also found Māori made up 28.8 percent of people experiencing homelessness, despite making up 17.1 percent of the population.
"Manaaki Rangatahi Waikato regional connector Danielle Marks said the situation for #Māori experiencing homelessness was "disgusting".
" 'I think first and foremost, it's really disgusting that Māori especially are homeless on their own whenua,' she said."
#AotearoaNews #NewZealandPol #AotearoaPol #MāoriNews #Unhoused #YouthHomelessness #HomelessnessInNewZealand
