Chief human rights commissioner, Paul Hunt, says extra help is urgently needed to fix the country's deeply flawed housing system.
The Commission released a Housing Inquiry report today in conjunction with youth homeless collective Manaaki Rangatahi. The report has been in the works for two years.
Hunt says housing affordability has decreased significantly over the past three decades, and the health of many is at risk from damp and mouldy homes.
He says more must be done, and it is time to appoint an ombudsman or commissioner for the job.
Hunt spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss and told her the inquiry exposes human right shortcomings.