Housing New Zealand ranks Whanganui's housing need as low - yet 24 people are on a waiting list, two houses are immediately available and another 31 are being sold.
On June 30 there were 24 individuals or families waiting for Housing New Zealand (HNZ) houses in the Whanganui district, and 17 of them were top priority, with severe and persistent need.
The other seven had serious, significant and persistent need.
Between them they want seven one-bedroom houses, eight two-bedroom houses and seven three-bedroom houses.
The district has 588 state houses, 51 of which are empty.