5 Apr 2022

Call for serious investment in Pacific health and housing

From , 6:01 am on 5 April 2022

A leading New Zealand epidemiologist is calling for 'serious investment' into Pacific health services and housing.

Professor Michael Baker says healthy homes reduce the risks of poor health outcomes.

He has been working with Otago University's 'He Kainga Oranga/Housing and Health Research Programme' for more than 20 years.

Dr Baker told RNZ Pacific reporter, Lydia Lews, current social inequalities Pacific communities face are unacceptable, especially because Covid-19 exploits disadvantage.

Ten thousand new houses will be built in Māngere over the next 10-15 years as part of the government's plans to tackle the housing crisis.

Photo: Supplied / Kāinga Ora