New Zealand promises to shelter all homeless people before winter

Jacina Ardern pledges to invest NZ$100m to tackle country's homelessness problem

New Zealand's government has vowed to shelter the country's homeless population by the time winter hits the southern hemisphere in around a month's time.

Jacina Ardern, the prime minister, pledged to invest NZ$100m (£51m) to tackle the country's homelessness problem.

The money will go towards providing 1,500 shorter-term houses, The New Zealand Herald reports.

Ms Ardern said there should be no homelessness in a country such as New Zealand.

"Images of children growing up in cars sits well with no one," she said.

In a video, she added: "We know we will have housing need again this winter but we want to try and get ahead of it.

"And so we have announced today NZ$100m going into emergency housing. That will enable us to double the number of emergency houses that were brought on last winter."

The government has also put out a request for members of the public to volunteer additional accommodation to house homeless people.

A homeless person sleeps on a park bench at Victoria Park, Auckland ( Dean Purcell/Getty Images) (Getty)

New Zealand uses the Housing First programme, which aims to get homeless people into permanent housing before dealing with issues such as addiction or mental health.

There is no requirement for tenants to be alcohol or drug-free when they enter the programme.

The emergency housing package will expand the programme, while the remainder will be used to sustain and maintain its services.

There are estimated to be around 40,000 people living in cars, tents and garages in New Zealand.