March 08, 2018
Maori solutions to future proof housing
Maori solutions to future proof housing
Researchers looking at New Zealand's future housing needs say Maori have many of the answer they need to come up with housing solutions that fit their physical and cultural needs.
Jessica Hutchings, the director Maori on the building better homes national science challenge, says her team has been looking at how to create culturally fit for purpose housing both in the regions and the cities where space is short.
She says housing is more than bedrooms, a roof and a place to put the car.
"We talk about a housing shortage. We talk about whanau Maori being life long renters. But also in the challenge we are really interested in supporting the well being of whanau into houses so it is not just about building houses. It is about building houses and thinking about whanau living in those houses and how can those houses shape whanau well being, shape the place and identity of whanau in a contemporary context," Dr Hutchings says.
She says local government planning rules can be barriers to Maori developing collective housing.
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