The government paid inflated rents for private emergency housing in Auckland over three years, removing long-term rentals from the already tight housing market.
A scathing review by the Auditor General found that between November 2017 and June 2020, the Ministry for Social Development shelled out more than $37 million to the city's private landlords and property managers - to house homeless people.
Mangere East Family Services practice leader Alastair Russell says the rentals in his community were often substandard and believes the Serious Fraud Office should investigate.
He spoke to Corin Dann.
