Ratana, M.
Government Housing Need Housing Quality Housing Schemes
Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities, ,
2023
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This report details the housing insecurities faced by rangatahi Māori, highlighting the inadequacies of governmental policies centred primarily on home ownership.
The research outlines the historical and contemporary challenges faced by Māori in securing stable housing, such as the impact of neoliberal policies, racial discrimination, and the significant rise in housing costs in Aotearoa. The report suggests innovative housing models like shared equity schemes and tiny homes as potential pathways to address housing insecurity, emphasising the importance of government intervention and support in facilitating these alternatives. As the author argues, housing policies over the past century have failed to reflect Māori notions of wellbeing as they are inherently underpinned by a legacy of Crown policies and practices that sought to alienate Māori from their traditional lands. Further, as the report continues, the likelihood of homeownership has dropped for younger generations, and this is even further restricted for rangatahi Māori, due to a range of factors including intergenerational poverty and discrimination. The report argues for a comprehensive approach to housing that encompasses the broader needs and aspirations of Māori youth, addressing factors such as intergenerational inequity, racial discrimination, and the escalating costs of housing. Drawing from literature, statistical data, and the principles of Kaupapa Māori theory, the research emphasises the need for policies that ensure security of tenure across all housing types, advocating for solutions that resonate with Māori cultural values and community connections. In exploring the complex landscape of housing security for rangatahi Māori, this report presents a critical examination of the systemic failures to provide equitable housing opportunities beyond the narrow focus on home ownership.
