You would have to be living under a rock not to know about the ongoing housing crisis that is affecting Aotearoa New Zealand. Whānau and families across the motu are experiencing the impacts of rising house purchase and rental prices, and a legacy of colonial impact on Māori aspirations of being well and secure at home. The recent climate crisis events and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic have exacerbated the many challenges faced by Māori.
Tō mātou kāinga, tō mātou ūkaipō is a research project that is talking to whānau across the motu to hear their voices, hopes, dreams and solutions towards understanding the diversity of what whānau need and want in a home environment. Our first round of talking to whānau through interviews has highlighted some important areas for us to explore as we go along the next stages of this research journey:
1) How does the system reinforce Māori “homelessness”?
- How much around home and housing is in our control?
- Where does the resourcing need to go?
- How have Māori “horizons” been impacted/narrowed/shaped by colonisation? Do we dare to dream?
2) How are Māori needs and aspirations around home connected to our search for wellbeing?
- How do our needs change with age/experience?
- Is there an element of “healing” associated with what we search for in a “home”?
3) How does the evolving climate crisis impact on Māori understandings, needs and aspiration of home?
4) How does the evolving series of pandemics affect Māori understandings, needs and aspirations of home?
Keep tuned to this website to find out more about our project, including our upcoming project video.
