dec 22, 1950 - State Housing qualifying test - starts

Description:

The new National Government was of the view that state rental housing should be limited to families who could neither afford to buy nor build their own homes. As a result, an upper income limit was imposed, as a qualifying test for state house applicants.
Apart from adjustments to the income limit, in recognition of changing income levels, the principle was observed until 1973. In 1970, the Commission of Inquiry into Housing reported that the income limit was $42 for a 40 hour week ($2,184 per annum). An upward adjustment was made in respect of families with four or more children.
Coupled with the other criteria (age, family size and housing circumstances), the income limit altered the pattern of access to state housing and altered the boundary between state housing and other housing accentuating a trend toward the development of low-income residential areas.

Source: https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/about-msd/history/social-assistance-chronology-programme-history.html

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