Tama Potaka

Tama Potaka

New Zealand New ZealandpoliticianMale6.0Global Dominance: 0.00%

Tama Potaka is the Associate Housing Minister of New Zealand, known for his commitment to addressing the homelessness crisis in the country. He recently celebrated the government's achievement in reducing the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75%, highlighting the failures of past policies that left many New Zealanders in prolonged motel accommodations. Potaka advocates for permanent housing solutions and criticizes the tightening of emergency housing access, which he believes contributes to rising street homelessness.

Power191
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Country presence

Recent news mentions

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced that some of the more controversial components of the Government’s Conservation Act reforms that would allow land to be disposed of or exchanged would be removed.

Election 2026: Green Party releases drinking water, oceans and rivers policy
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-07-06
6.0

Tama Potaka refused to intervene in the Ministry of Social Development’s performance targets for its staff related to emergency housing approvals.

New NZ First candidate Michael Laws wants broadcasting portfolio to scrap RNZ
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-07-03
5.0

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka stated it was up to MSD’s chief executive how she managed staff performance.

MSD boss defends linking staff performance with cutting emergency housing
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-07-02
6.0

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka, who oversees the Government’s response to urgent housing, said people who were housing-deprived often experienced other pressures, including mental distress, addiction or trauma.

Should Auckland have an all-access, night shelter? The debate over the best way to help the homeless
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-07-02
6.0

Tama Potaka is the Associate Housing Minister overseeing emergency and urgent housing options.

Just one fifth of families leaving immediate access transitional housing going on to long-term home
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-06-30
5.0

Tama Potaka has spoken to MSD chief executive Debbie Powers regarding the Government’s emergency housing target.

Homelessness: Christopher Luxon unaware there is no night shelter in Auckland amid emergency housing crackdown
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-06-29
5.0

Minister Tama Potaka scrapped controversial clauses which would have allowed land to be exchanged or disposed of following a public outcry.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks to Mike Hosking after new solar policy announced
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-06-28
6.0

Tama Potaka is the Conservation Minister who backed down on reforms to the Conservation Act after public backlash.

Is Christopher Luxon flying, or falling with style? – Thomas Coughlan
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-06-27
4.0

Tama Potaka was mentioned as one of the individuals imagined as the punching bag.

Eru Kapa-Kingi repeatedly punches bag after saying it represents Christopher Luxon
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-06-24
5.0

Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka said the Government was investing in te reo Māori by strengthening Māori broadcasting.

Budget 2026: RNZ and NZ on Air funding cut, boost for domestic screen production rebate and Māori broadcasting – Media Insider
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-05-28
9.0

Tama Potaka announced plans to campaign on environmental issues at the Bluegreens forum.

Danyl McLauchlan: Can Opportunity provide a real alternative for voters?
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-03-02
6.0

Tama Potaka acknowledged the important role Whakaata Māori played in promoting te reo Māori.

Cross-party MPs urge Government to increase Whakaata Māori funding
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-02-27
7.0

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said the 1700 pet bonds already lodged showed 'the reform is working as intended and helping renters access homes that may previously have been off-limits.'

Pet bonds not a ‘true safeguard for tenants’, renting advocates say
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-02-10
7.0

Government Minister Tama Potaka gave Peeni Henare a suggestion for his next move after politics.

Waitangi 2026: Te Pāti Māori apologises, calls for new hui with Ngāpuhi as fractures continue to show
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-02-05
5.0

Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka was urged to review transport funding allocations.

Waitangi 2026: How a dusty Gerry Brownlee led to a road to Waitangi being sealed
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2026-02-03
6.0

Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka said the report showed encouraging progress but 'there was still work to do' to improve the Crown’s Treaty relationships.

Iwi forced into legal action over Treaty settlements to make Crown uphold commitments – report
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2025-12-19
7.0
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Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said he was proud of the Government’s work to move people out of 'dank and dark' emergency housing motels.

One of NZ’s largest emergency housing providers sells up $6m in Auckland motels as Government grants dip
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2025-11-30
7.0

The conservation minister, Tama Potaka, announced the addition of feral cats to the world-leading Predator-Free 2050 strategy.

‘Stone-cold killers’: New Zealand to eradicate feral cats by 2050 | New Zealand
The Guardian·United KingdomUnited Kingdom· 2025-11-24
7.0

Four more National MPs follow Parmar: Nicola Willis, Andrew Bayly, Simon Watts and Tama Potaka.

MP property rich list: Our MPs have stakes in a combined $379 million of property - who owns the most?
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2025-11-23
5.0

Tama Potaka is the minister overseeing the emergency housing system in New Zealand.

Labour criticises Tama Potaka as new data shows a majority of emergency housing applications in urban Auckland are being declined
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2025-11-18
6.0

Tama Potaka is a housing and social sector minister attending meetings on public disorder.

‘Move-on’ orders for homeless come as public disorder hits 10-year low
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2025-11-18
5.0

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka is travelling to the Central Plateau Emergency Management Centre to support response efforts.

Tongariro National Park wildfire: Evacuations begin as blaze spreads to cover 1600 hectares
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2025-11-09
7.0

Hamilton West MP Tama Potaka said it would help advance this project toward construction.

Canterbury police seek public help to find wanted man Ross Hunt
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2025-10-24
7.0

Hamilton West MP Tama Potaka said the funding would help advance the project toward construction.

Measles patient zero found on Cook Strait ferry sailing
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2025-10-24
7.0

Hamilton West MP Tama Potaka said it would help advance this project toward construction.

Stabbing near Hamilton’s Fraser High School: Mother appeals for information on social media
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2025-10-24
7.0

In July, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka announced 189 new builds for Rotorua, including up to 150 social houses and 39 affordable rental homes.

Government to deliver 300 more social homes in Tauranga, Te Puke and Rotorua
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2025-10-19
8.0

Robinson urged ministers Chris Bishop and Tama Potaka to change the emergency housing criteria.

Auckland CBD poll: 97% of Herald readers say city centre feels unsafe
The New Zealand Herald – country’s largest newspaper, est. 1863·New ZealandNew Zealand· 2025-10-13
5.0