HOUSING-NEW-ZEALAND-LTD - PRIVATISATION BY STEALTH

Like a number of other capitalist countries, New Zealand has recently undergone considerable economic restructuring. As part of this process , and representing a major policy redirection, the state has introduce d a process of corporatisation and privatisation into the social servi ce sector. In this paper we examine the processes involved in the shif t from social rented housing to the emergence of a state-owned, commer cially-oriented company, Housing New Zealand Ltd. We propose that the policy changes are ill-conceived, risking fiscal blowout for the state , and are likely to increase the marginalisation and poverty of tenant s.