New Zealand government counts homeless in tourism stats

The Government of New Zealand has been counting homeless people living in motels in its tourism statistics.

Image result for homeless

Statistics Minister Mark Mitchell has confirmed the Statistics New Zealand Accommodation Survey includes people who are being put into hostels or motels through emergency housing special needs grants.

It is used as a measure of tourism levels, with the definition used to define the domestic tourists as “one New Zealander spending one night at an establishment”.

The Government uses that figure to trumpet a booming tourism industry.