Empty Housing NZ properties should be made available as emergency housing in Wanganui, says Labour Party housing spokesman Phil Twyford.
Mr Twyford this week met members of the Wanganui community housing forum who outlined their concerns.
He said the Wanganui group made a compelling case for the community and local and central government getting together to work on a solution. But he said the answer was obvious.
"There are about 50 empty Housing NZ properties and that is an extremely valuable public asset that is, in my view, mis-managed not only in Wanganui but around the country. An asset is just wasting away here.
"On the one hand you've got people desperate for short-term housing and on the other you've got these empty houses."