The Shift Aotearoa is a major three-day conference that will bring together a diverse group across the housing sector to fix Aoteroa New Zealand’s housing delivery system
The conference will take place from 5-7 June 2019 at Te Papa in Wellington. Organised by Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities Ko Ngā wā Kāinga hei Whakamāhorahora National Science Challenge and Community Housing Aotearoa, it is designed to shift momentum towards a well-functioning housing system – one where every New Zealander is well-housed.
Led by the latest research from Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities (BBHTC) and international researchers – as well as case studies from community housing practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand – the conference will seek to develop a platform for cross-sector action on housing.
The inaugural event will bring together policymakers, researchers, planners, analysts, Māori and community housing providers, builders and those in the construction and finance sectors – together with community representatives and rangitahi – to articulate the beginning of a collaborative human rights and Te Tiriti o Waitangi-based housing strategy for
Aotearoa New Zealand.
The first day of the event is a Māori Housing Think Tank, followed by two days focussing on the role of community, Māori and the community housing sector and why these sectors offer
much-needed solutions for housing in New Zealand.
“The Shift is a UN movement that is all about housing being at the core of inclusive, thriving communities,” explains Challenge Director Ruth Berry. “The conference is designed to help New Zealand make this shift.“
In order to achieve this, BBHTC will share research to inform evidence-based decision making in the community housing sector and, together with Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA), will work with conference participants to co-create the draft housing strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Māori have a key role to play,” says Challenge Director Māori Dr Jessica Hutchings. “Kāinga Tahi, Kāinga Rua will present research that explores the social function of whenua, land and housing.”
Key speakers at the conference include Paul Hunt, Chief Commissioner, NZ Human Rights Commission, Moana Jackson keynote on Te Tiriti o Waitangi Rights, Human Rights and Professor Christine Whitehead, London School of Economics, Professor Emeritus in Housing Economics.
Meanwhile, the conference will also play host to the Australasian Housing Institute Professional Excellence in Housing Awards Dinner, sponsored by Housing New Zealand, to showcase the tremendous achievements being delivered.
“A well-functioning housing system would elevate the role that not-for-profit housing providers play in delivering truly affordable homes to rent and buy, for the missing middle who aren’t eligible for public housing, yet who can’t afford the market,” says CHA chief executive Scott Figenshow.
“The strategy that will be developed during the course of this event will be the beginning of delivering a human-rights based national housing strategy. We know that the conference will prove the potential of community housing providers to deliver a substantial increase in affordable housing across New Zealand.”
