Highest Poverty in New Zealand

Top 100 cities ranked by highest poverty

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · New Zealand

Highest Poverty — New Zealand

1 Homai E7 10.9%

2 Birkdale E7 10.9%

3 Naenae G2 10.9%

4 Glen Innes E7 10.9%

5 Bryndwr E9 10.9%

6 Burnside E9 10.9%

7 Ellerslie E7 10.9%

8 North East Valley F7 10.9%

9 Wattle Downs E7 10.9%

10 Bishopdale E9 10.9%

11 Waiuku E7 10.9%

12 Pakuranga Heights E7 10.9%

13 Western Heights E7 10.9%

14 Pakuranga E7 10.9%

15 Ilam E9 10.9%

16 Newtown G2 10.9%

17 Spreydon E9 10.9%

18 Avonhead E9 10.9%

19 Carterton G2 10.9%

20 Hawera F9 10.9%

21 Balmoral E7 10.9%

22 Queenstown F7 10.9%

23 Te Puke E8 10.9%

24 Birkenhead E7 10.9%

25 Forrest Hill E7 10.9%

26 Parklands E9 10.9%

27 Browns Bay E7 10.9%

28 Stokes Valley G2 10.9%

29 Beach Haven E7 10.9%

30 Favona E7 10.9%

31 Flaxmere F2 10.9%

32 Redwoodtown F4 10.9%

33 Hillcrest E7 10.9%

34 Riccarton E9 10.9%

35 Hokowhitu F3 10.9%

36 Grey Lynn E7 10.9%

37 Wigram E9 10.9%

38 Howick E7 10.9%

39 West Harbour E7 10.9%

40 Johnsonville G2 10.9%

41 Whitby G2 10.9%

42 Albany E7 10.9%

43 Takapuna E7 10.9%

44 Orewa E7 10.9%

45 Onehunga E7 10.9%

46 Sandringham E7 10.9%

47 Taradale F2 10.9%

48 Oamaru F7 10.9%

49 Gore F8 10.9%

50 Wanaka F7 10.9%

51 Halswell E9 10.9%

52 Hillsborough E7 10.9%

53 Waikanae G2 10.9%

54 Kaiapoi E9 10.9%

55 Te Awamutu G1 10.9%

56 Tokoroa G1 10.9%

57 Blockhouse Bay E7 10.9%

58 Te Aro G2 10.9%

59 Mosgiel F7 10.9%

60 Havelock North F2 10.9%

61 Mangere East E7 10.9%

62 Auckland E7 10.9%

63 Christchurch E9 10.9%

64 Wellington G2 10.9%

65 Manukau City E7 10.9%

66 North Shore E7 10.9%

67 Hamilton G1 10.9%

68 Tauranga E8 10.9%

69 Dunedin F7 10.9%

70 Lower Hutt G2 10.9%

71 Palmerston North F3 10.9%

72 New Plymouth F9 10.9%

73 Hastings F2 10.9%

74 Napier F2 10.9%

75 Rotorua E8 10.9%

76 Porirua G2 10.9%

77 Invercargill F8 10.9%

78 Papatoetoe E7 10.9%

79 Nelson F5 10.9%

80 Whangarei F6 10.9%

81 Whanganui F3 10.9%

82 Upper Hutt G2 10.9%

83 Manurewa E7 10.9%

84 Gisborne F1 10.9%

85 Papakura E7 10.9%

86 Rolleston E9 10.9%

87 Blenheim F4 10.9%

88 Paraparaumu G2 10.9%

89 Timaru E9 10.9%

90 Masterton G2 10.9%

91 Takanini E7 10.9%

92 Richmond TAS 10.9%

93 Rangiora E9 10.9%

94 Henderson E7 10.9%

95 Whakatane E8 10.9%

96 Otahuhu E7 10.9%

97 Lincoln E7 10.9%

98 Te Atatu South E7 10.9%

99 Te Atatu Peninsula E7 10.9%

100 Hamilton East G1 10.9%

Cities with the highest poverty rates in New Zealand face deep economic challenges affecting a significant portion of their population. Homai has a poverty rate of 10.9%.

High poverty rates impact communities in multiple ways: reduced access to healthcare and healthy food, lower educational outcomes, higher crime rates, and deteriorating infrastructure. These challenges are interconnected and require comprehensive solutions.

Addressing poverty in these cities requires a multi-pronged approach including economic development, affordable housing, quality education, healthcare access, and workforce training programs targeting underserved populations.

Did You Know?

1. In Homai, 10.9% of residents — roughly 1 in 9 people — live below the poverty line.
2. Child poverty rates in these cities are often even higher than the overall rate, sometimes exceeding 40%.
3. Poverty is measured by household income relative to family size — the threshold varies from $15,060 for an individual to $31,200 for a family of four.

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