Auckland (The NZ Today)
National is making a direct pitch to older New Zealanders, promising that at least 20% of future homes supported through the Government’s Housing Flexible Fund would be reserved for people aged 65 and over.
Christopher Luxon unveiled the policy at Pacific Lakes Retirement Village in Tauranga on Thursday, arguing that New Zealand needs more affordable housing options for seniors who either cannot afford — or simply do not want — to move into retirement villages.
People aged 65 and over currently make up about 15% of those waiting for social housing, according to figures cited by National.
The policy would not create a separate new housing fund. Instead, National would ring-fence at least one in every five future places financed through the existing Housing Flexible Fund for older people.
That could include social housing as well as lower-cost rental models provided by community organisations such as Abbeyfield.
The Flexible Fund was established in 2025 to give housing providers more flexibility to build homes suited to local need. Budget 2026 added another $69.2 million to support an estimated 1800 to 2250 additional social homes over three years.
National’s latest election commitment does not include additional funding. The change is instead about guaranteeing seniors a minimum share of homes delivered through future rounds of the programme.
The package also extends National’s approach to small secondary dwellings.
The party says its easier “granny flat” rules would be widened to cover tiny homes on wheels, while granny flats could also be built on vacant sections without requiring a main house to already exist.
National says the changes would make it easier for families to keep ageing parents or grandparents living nearby while still giving them their own space.
Luxon said councils had made inter-generational housing unnecessarily difficult and argued planning rules should make these arrangements easier.
The senior housing announcement sits alongside other housing promises being made during the campaign.
Labour has proposed helping charities and community housing providers access cheaper finance so they can build more homes, while the Greens are campaigning for a major expansion of non-market housing and controls on rent increases.
National has also repeated an earlier KiwiSaver commitment requiring employers to continue making contributions for workers aged over 65 who remain in paid employment and continue contributing themselves.
Source: National Party announcement
