Resources, priorities and trade-offs 91. The human right to a decent home is subject to resource availability. Even high-income countries, such as Aotearoa, cannot avoid difficult decisions about resource allocation. Priorities have to be set and trade-offs have to be made. 92. Prioritisation and trade-offs are common features of every approach to policy making. The human rights approach, grounded on Te Tiriti, is distinctive because of the conditions it imposes on the policy making process, such as:33 a) explicit acknowledgment of colonisation and serious attention to its continuing impacts; b) honouring of Te Tiriti and the partnership between kāwanatanga (Crown) and rangatiratanga (hapū and iwi) e.g. government to work in partnership and share decision-making with its Tiriti partners, and advance equitable outcomes for Māori; c) priority-setting inevitably requires value judgements, so it is crucial to be explicit and clear about which values are being relied upon; d) there must be a time-bound strategy or plan of action, and housing is no exception; e) equity, equality and non-discrimination rule out any trade-offs which would result in, or deepen, unequal and discriminatory outcomes; f) priority should be given to the poorest, most vulnerable, and most disadvantaged individuals and communities; 34 Human Rights Commission g) priority-setting must involve the active and informed participation of those affected (in relation to tangata whenua, see (b) above); h) no trade-offs are permitted in relation to core obligations of immediate effect; i) constructive accountability mechanisms are needed to ensure trade-offs are fair and equitable. These conditions apply to policy making in relation to the right to a decent home grounded on Te Tiriti. Guideline 18: The right to a decent home grounded on Te Tiriti places measurable obligations on central and local government. Full implementation of the right to a decent home may be progressively realised over time. But central and local government must take deliberate, concrete and targeted steps towards realisation of the right to a decent home. Government has a specific and continuing obligation to move as expeditiously and effectively as possible towards the human right’s full implementation. Progress (or otherwise) must be tracked by suitable indicators and benchmarks. When prioritising in relation to the right to a decent home, certain conditions apply, such as consideration of colonisation and its continuing impacts, Te Tiriti and the most disadvantaged individuals and communities, including those living in poverty.