New Zealand’s homeless have been moved off the streets, but the crisis endures

At the start of the pandemic, New Zealand made headlines for appearing to eliminate homelessness, but the story is more complicated

Franki began living on Auckland's streets at age 15, shortly after his father died in 2018. He hunted for secret spots to sleep - the backs of buildings and cemeteries. There were times when he was frightened; times when the older street community took him under their wings.

He slept rough through New Zealand's first pandemic lockdown, wandering the quiet roads, struggling to find food. There were few housing options for a teenager - rentals would not accept him, nor many motels. In mid-2020, worried for his health, he walked through the doors of Lifewise, an organisation that supports people into accommodation.