Kāinga Tahi, Kāinga Rua
The Kāinga Tahi, Kāinga Rua Strategic Research Area recognises the dual and complex nature of Māori identities and the many communities we build our lives in. Simply all Māori by whakapapa originate from a specific place, rohe, marae, kāinga but are more likely now to live at their Kāinga Rua in a city. Many Māori may consider their Kāinga Tahi being the city now and their Kāinga Rua their marae.
The research area will deliver solutions for how we collaboratively finance, design, and build developments, with buy-in from multiple stakeholders, to overcome discriminatory policy and legislative barriers, to actively support Māori aspirations for long-term, affordable, and healthy housing that meets the needs of their communities. We also focus on Māori wellbeing and housing for those whānau who are homeless.
Under the Kāinga Tahi, Kāinga Rua strategic research area, there are three kaupapa Māori research projects.
Research Project 1: Te Manaaki o te Marae: The role of marae in the Tāmaki Māori housing crisis
In the winter of 2016, Te Puea Memorial Marae initiated a marae-based kaupapa Māori response, opening their doors to vulnerable whānau seeking emergency housing. In the legacy of Te Puea Herangi, the marae answered the call of homeless whānau in Tāmaki, and in doing so completely disrupted the Auckland housing narrative by making visible and naming the ‘crisis’. More than this, Te Puea Memorial Marae demonstrated that marae can be an integral part of urban housing solutions.
The overarching research question is: How can marae be strengthened to manaaki tāngata and assist in addressing whānau aspirations and needs for long-term, affordable, and healthy housing? While the focus of this research project is the role of marae in providing emergency housing, this is only one dimension of te manaaki o te marae. The broader research context concerns marae-led housing interventions premised on the ability of marae to extend their cultural reach into communities. The transformational potential of marae for Māori is heightened as the Auckland housing crisis continues to escalate, and the number of Māori living in the region is expected to grow. Marae have always been the epicentres of our whānau, hapū, iwi, and communities. This research will strengthen marae (mana whenua, taura here, and mataawaka) to engage in the housing crisis for urban Māori in culturally-consistent and sustainable ways.
Contact: Co-Principal Investigators: Rau Hoskins, Unitec, e-mail: rhoskins@unitec.ac.nz Associate Prof Jenny Lee-Morgan, University of Waikato, e-mail: jennylm@waikato.ac.nz
Research Project 2: Toitū te Kāinga, Toitū te Ora, Toitū te Tangata
The Toitū te Kāinga, Toitū te Ora, Toitū te Tangata (Sustainable Homes, Healthy People) is a collaborative science challenge partnership between Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Unitec Institute of Technology, Scion, and Auckland offsite design and manufacturing company Tall Wood. Led by Toi Ohomai, and launched In November 2017, the research is designed to help realise the aspirations of Te Matekuare Whānau Trust who are establishing a unique papakāinga development at Te Whaiti. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, the research team aims to support Te Matekuare Whānau Trust to realise their vision of having affordable, sustainable, and healthy homes (and whānau) living on their self-sustaining papakāinga (whenua).
Te Whaiti papakāinga development is a case study around which a broad programme of research, that explores multiple themes, is wrapped. Using a holistic approach, experts in design, construction, public health, architecture, and sustainability are aiming to enliven Te Matekuare whānau aspirations. The case study is focused on benefits for Māori, and developing mātauranga Māori, in relation to affordable and healthy housing. However, the findings have potential to benefit people from all cultural origins who have an interest in community housing development.
Contact: Project Leader Dr Tepora Emery, Toiohomai, e-mail: tepora.emery@toiohomai.ac.nz
Research Project 3: Kāinga Tahi, Kāinga Rua – Building Diverse Māori Housing Solutions
This project is made up of three distinct research strands or whenu – Papakāinga, Hauora and Whai Rawa. Within each whenu are discrete kaupapa Māori research projects, including a team of rangatahi researchers. All whenu are linked by the ahu of AKO which is a kaupapa Māori knowledge production and sharing platform. This overall project structure drives a highly visible and disruptive research contribution by sharing and connecting communities of interest with the new evidence and knowledge produced. Our research methods include: wānanga, hui; interviews, focus groups, literature reviews, scoping studies, case studies and small-scale surveys. A summary sheet on the project can be found here.
Contact: Project Leader
Dr Jessica Hutchings, Director Māori, BBHTC NSC.
e-mail: jvhutchings@gmail.com
Māori researchers at Kāinga Tahi, Kāinga Rua - Project Team Hui, June 2018, Te Herenga Waka, Wellington.