Labour leader Chris Hipkins has pledged to scrap Ministry of Social Development emergency housing targets if elected, describing the metrics as "morally and ethically bankrupt".
The commitment follows a Q+A report on Sunday revealing MSD managers were being individually assessed on whether they maintained emergency housing numbers below government targets. Internal documents obtained under the Official Information Act show managers were told they could face consequences if their KPI performance did not meet expectations.
Hipkins said Labour would implement a fit-for-purpose system in place of the current targets. "The current targets are not fit for purpose. So, absolutely, we will not be going ahead with what the current Government are doing," he said.
"People shouldn't be denied the support that they need and that they are entitled to and that they meet the criteria for, just because the Government set a target and now MSD are incentivising or disincentivising their staff with particular performance measures," Hipkins told reporters.
Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said he was not comfortable with the targets and would ask the MSD chief executive about them.
Housing Minister Chris Bishop said he was not aware of the specific MSD instance as Potaka is in charge of emergency housing. Bishop said those who need emergency housing support get it and the system has not been abolished, and MSD has been told that if frontline staff can find alternative support options they should do so. These alternatives include transitional housing, social housing, or private rentals with MSD assistance for bond payments.