Certain Hibiscus Coast residents may see a positive shift in their communities as Kāinga Ora adopts a stricter approach to managing unruly tenants.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka announced the changes, highlighting the government's commitment to ensuring tenant accountability.

"For far too long, a small number of Kāinga Ora tenants have ridden roughshod over their neighbours because, under Kāinga Ora’s previous Sustaining Tenancies Framework, people knew there were no consequences for their threatening, abusive or damaging behaviour," Mr Bishop said.

In March, the ministers instructed Kāinga Ora to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and strengthen the management of disruptive tenants.

Since then, 14 tenancies have been terminated for disruptive behaviour or persistent rent arrears, with 25 additional termination applications awaiting decisions by the Tenancy Tribunal.

This is a significant increase compared to only eight tenancies terminated for such reasons in the whole of 2023.

Kāinga Ora has issued 80 formal warning notices for disruptive behaviour in the past three months, compared to just 13 in the same period last year.

The new Tenancy Management Framework, including a Disruptive Behaviour Policy, aims to balance the responsibilities of tenants and the rights of the community to quiet enjoyment of their homes.

“At a time when we have around 24,000 whānau on the social housing waitlist and more than 2,000 whānau living in emergency housing motels, we will not look the other way when people abuse the privilege of living in social housing," Mr Potaka added.

"The message to Kāinga Ora tenants is clear: if your actions are causing your neighbours to live in fear and misery, your time is up. Change your behaviour now or face the consequences," Mr Bishop emphasised.