Kainga Ora's large-scale ownership of state houses may not be the most effective way to provide housing help to Kiwis.

A report by The New Zealand Initiative lists several reasons why government ownership can be problematic and wasteful.

Its cost structure appears to be approaching double the usual private landlord benchmark, based on indicative calculations.

NZ Initiative Senior Fellow Dr Bryce Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge the Government has a poor track record and seemingly can't manage all 77-thousand housing units.

He says tenants are often getting into large rent arrears and causing problems for their neighbours - and Kainga Ora don't respond quickly enough.