Tenure trajectories of children and young people in Aotearoa New Zealand between 2013–2022

Housing tenure is an important determinant of wellbeing. Our paper analyses the tenure trajectories of people living in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). Using linked de-identified microdata, we track people’s tenure trajectories, grouping them into twelve types then three major categories: stable, unstable, and highly unstable tenure trajectories. We analyse results for the overall population and specifically cohorts of young people aged 0–8 years, 9–16 years, and 17–24 years at the time of the 2013 census. Results show differences in 10-year tenure trajectories across the major categories, particularly between the overall population and the cohorts aged between 9–16 years, and 17–24 years. Young, Māori, and Pacific peoples were disproportionately represented in highly unstable tenure trajectories. We interpret these disparities in relation to structural housing policy change in Aotearoa New Zealand and broader ‘Generation Rent’ dynamics.