Renters Unite! Report launch for the Aotearoa Renters’ Survey 2026

It’s been nearly 10 years since Renters United and ActionStation launched the People’s Review of Renting. 

Since then, Healthy Homes legislation has come into force, no-cause evictions were abolished and then reinstated, state housing started to be built again and then stopped, and a global pandemic led to a nation-wide rent freeze followed by a sharp increase in rents.

We surveyed 3,310 renters across the country through the Aotearoa Renters’ Survey to find out what it’s really like to rent in 2026.

Media headlines might read 'this is a renters’ market', but the experiences of renters paints a different picture, one where high rents and the threat of evictions traps us in unsafe and unsuitable housing.

This situation is not inevitable! We can have homes for living, not for profit - and renters coming together to build power is the way we get there!

Bring your whānau, friends, flatmates and neighbours along to this launch event, for the report “They haven’t updated anything but the rent": Aotearoa Renters’ Survey report 2026. 

When: Saturday 15 August, 1-2.30pm 

Where: Te Mako Naenae Community Centre 

The event will be MC'd by local comedian Jerome Chandrahasen. Jerome is a regular performer in the NZ International Comedy Festival, the NZ Fringe, and has MC'd various events around the country. He has taken his solo shows to the Edinburgh Fringe, the NZ Fringe, Nelson, and a nice little pub up in Kāpiti. Every Monday you can find him at Fringe Bar running Raw Meat Monday, Wellington's longest running stand up comedy gig. 

There will be kai and speakers. Politicians and candidates from political parties have been invited to respond.