File photo. Photo: Lance Cpl. John Robbart III
Kāinga Ora has opened 24 new homes in Napier that use solar power.
The state housing agency says it is tracking supply chains to make sure its increasing use of solar panels is not compromised by slave labour.
Some countries have taken steps to block panels linked to forced labour in parts of China.
New Zealand's anti-slave labour laws are parked in draft form.
Kāinga Ora said it did not do its own audits but used external auditors to check its supply chain, and demands details from manufacturers.
The government said, in addition, the Napier homes used panels from among the few certified lead-free ones on the market.
Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods said the 24 new homes in Seddon Crescent, Marewa would all have lower power bills.
"Having solar installed on these houses will ease the pressure on household budgets and we expect customers' power bills across the development to be reduced by approximately $400 to $700 per year.
She said 16 homes had been fitted with solar systems and the other eight homes would be able to use electricity generated by those solar panels.
The 24 homes include six four-bedroom and two three-bedroom houses with the other homes comprising one and two-bedroom duplex homes.
"It is the second public housing complex in New Zealand to be completed using this technology after the first was opened in Christchurch in July. Both of these have been funded through our innovative Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy fund," Woods said.
"So far, this government has delivered over 150 new homes in Napier including 25 transitional homes across three locations, with almost 400 in the pipeline.
"We've come a long way since the previous government left Napier with 33 fewer public homes than it started with."
