Bathgate, M.
Demography Government Housing Need
Housing Corporation of New Zealand, ,
1988
In his report for the Housing Corporation, Bathgate outlines a range of demographic data on Māori housing that detail the housing requirements of that populace.
The report reveals a notable decline in Māori home ownership rates in the latter half of the 20th century, emphasising a disparity between rural and urban Māori homeownership. It points out that in 1981, regions with traditional Māori settlements like Northland, Taranaki, and the East Coast showed higher rates of Māori house ownership, though these areas also reported a significant presence of substandard housing, without specifically defining ‘substandard-ness’. The report underscores contributing factors like high unemployment and low income within the Māori community, adversely affecting their housing conditions. It also delves into demographic trends, such as the increase in single-parent families and the generally larger size of Māori families, and how these factors impact their housing aspirations. Regarding financing, Bathgate suggests that Māori expectations of obtaining housing loans are low, partly due to the private sector’s general reluctance to grant loans to Māori applicants. The difficulty in securing finance for developing Māori land is also highlighted. Despite Māori owning substantial land in certain regions, private lenders show hesitancy in funding development projects on land with multiple owners. The report identifies specific housing needs of the Māori, particularly the importance of accommodating extended families. This necessitates larger living spaces, such as expansive lounge, dining, and kitchen areas, as well as a greater number of bedrooms. Bathgate’s report also touches upon the Housing Corporation’s efforts in several areas: promoting housing development on tribal land, transferring housing resources to Māori control, and adapting housing strategies to suit the unique characteristics of Māori communities, whether urban or rural.
