Some Anglican churches are combining protest and prayer to get housing back on the political agenda.

Wellington's Anglican Diocese is holding five "services of lament" on empty Housing New Zealand plots in the lower North Island this Sunday.

St David’s Church in the Lower Hutt suburb of Naenae is co-hosting one of the services.

Priest-in-charge Reverend Martin Robinson said even in the past week, they've been dealing with a Syrian refugee household.

"Housing New Zealand has no housing for them, so they're trying to hunt for a private landlord. Their house rentals continue to go up and up and yet the WINZ subsidy will not cover that."

The diocese said about 64 rugby fields of Housing New Zealand land is currently vacant around the country.

Reverend Robinson said, "regardless of whatever party this particular Government is, this Government has dropped the ball on this big time."

Services of lament are also being held in Palmerston North, Porirua, Strathmore and at Wellington Cathedral.