Suggestions some Rotorua motels are keeping rooms empty to rake in Government cash.

The city's Temporary Housing Dashboard shows the numbers of people in emergency housing motels have nearly halved since last year.

It's prompted calls to return some facilities to the market with available motels struggling to meet high demand.

Wylie Court manager Judith Cunningham says it's a waste of taxpayer money.

"It's a great revenue that moteliers receive for having them in emergency housing."

LISTEN ABOVE

• New figures reveal change in number of households in emergency housing motels
• Rotorua Mayor says they have been calling for emergency housing changes for some time
• 'Spiralling poverty crisis': Nearly $70m spent on Rotorua's emergency housing