He Kāinga Mokopuna Designs recognises the critical housing shortage in Aotearoa, New Zealand, driven by limited supply, high demand, and affordability barriers.
Rising living costs, insufficient wages, increasing rental prices, and restrictive council regulations exacerbate this crisis, especially for Rangatahi Māori and their families. Our approach focuses on creating affordable housing options that honor cultural values, improve financial capacities, and ensure cost transparency. We provide detailed cabin plans, streamlined consent processes, budgeting guidance, and essential information for young Māori aspiring to build on their whānau land, empowering them and supporting intergenerational living.
Whānau living is integral to Māori culture, emphasising family and community support systems. He Kāinga Mokopuna housing solutions benefit whānau for generations, ensuring stability, cultural continuity, and strengthened familial bonds. By offering sustainable and affordable housing solutions that accommodate extended family living, we preserve this cultural heritage. Our commitment to social equity, cultural sensitivity, and sustainable development ensures that all New Zealanders can secure decent, secure, and affordable housing, creating lasting solutions that support and benefit families for generations to come.
Our research project stems from the pressing need for whānau in Tāmaki Makaurau to expand their living solutions as whānau grow and need more space. In today's economic climate, finding affordable and suitable housing has become increasingly challenging. This project explores innovative ways to create affordable, sustainable living solutions that respects cultural values and meets the expanding needs of whānau. By conducting in-depth cost analyses, streamlining council consent processes, and developing user-friendly resources, we aim to provide practical and effective solutions for our community.
Wānanga ipurangiour webinar
He Kainga Mokopuna, held on July 18, 2024, showcased three innovative design plans for new living solutions for whānau Māori. The event featured insightful interviews with key team members: Rau Hoskins, the architect behind the designs; Rihana Te Nana, a Rangatahi researcher; and Ray Esau, the Building Advisor. Each shared their expertise and vision for creating culturally resonant and sustainable housing options. Hosted by Ella Henry, the event was a significant step forward in addressing the housing needs of Māori families, emphasizing community, tradition, and modern living.
Kiriata tuhonongaRangatahi Vlog Series
To engage and inspire our community, we proudly present the Rangatahi Vlog Series. This series follows the journey of young Māori as they navigate the challenges of the housing crisis and find innovative solutions to build on their whānau land. Through these vlogs, viewers gain insights into the process, challenges, and successes of creating sustainable housing that respects cultural values and promotes whānau living.
PakipūmekaVideo Production
Our video production project offers an immersive experience where we meet the key players behind He Kāinga Mokopuna Designs. Viewers will get to know our dedicated architect, building advisor, and rangatahi researcher. These experts share their experiences and insights, providing a behind-the-scenes look at how they contribute to our kaupapa. The architect discusses the design process, the building advisor explains construction techniques, and the rangatahi researcher highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and community engagement in our projects. This collaborative approach ensures that our whare whānau solutions are both practical and deeply rooted in the values and needs of whānau māori.
MātārereBrochure
He Kāinga Mokopuna Designs offers comprehensive resources to support your housing journey. Our detailed brochure provides an overview of our services, including cabin plans, consent processes, and budgeting guidance. It also highlights our commitment to cultural sensitivity and sustainable development. Additionally, our production team created an engaging and informative film that showcases real-life examples of our living solutions in action.
For more information and to access our resources, please explore our website or contact us directly. Join us in creating a future where every whānau has access to decent, secure, and affordable housing.
Register your interest in our He Kāinga Mokopuna designs, created to provide living solutions for whānau Māori. These plans are gifted (koha) to whānau with the intent to support the housing needs of our whānau and hāpori. By registering, you are expressing interest in the plans. A member of the He Kāinga Mokopuna team will reach out to discuss your needs and ensure that these plans will be used solely for the benefit of your whānau, not for resale or profit.
Rawiri FaulknerNgāti Whakaue, Ngāti Huia, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Toarangatira
Rawiri is an experienced Senior Executive and Director, having held senior roles in Local Government and Crown Agencies. Rawiri is currently employed by Ngāti Toa Rangatira as Pou Toa Matarau (Strategic Partnerships, Environment and Culture) based in Porirua. He is an experienced Hearing Commissioner having served on a number of consent hearings, plan reviews and fast track consents. Rawiri has worked alongside Kainga Ora in the Eastern Porirua development.
Along with his wife Linda, Rawiri has also worked with a number of iwi developing strategic plans and government procurement applications. Rawiri brings a wealth of experience to his role within the Science Challenge
Andrew Reding
Andrew held several senior roles in Europe before relocating to New Zealand in 1994.
He joined Fletcher Challenge in 1995 and became Chief Executive of the Building Products and Steel Group in 2001. He joined the Rank Group in 2006 where he was involved in the acquisition and management of the Evergreen Packaging businesses in the USA, as well as managing the Carter Holt Harvey Pulp, Paper and Packaging assets in New Zealand.
Andrew is currently Chair of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) Acceleration Committee, a Director of the New Zealand Shareholders’ Association and Chair of its Auckland Branch, and a member of the Advisory Boards of Dempsey Wood Civil Ltd as well as Avertana Ltd.
Hope SimonsenCo-Chair
Hope has nearly 20 years’ experience in affordable and social housing, including community housing, private property, and central government. She is currently Emerge Aotearoa’s national housing manager. Emerge Aotearoa provides emergency housing and support services and long-term social housing for whānau and individuals from Whangarei to Christchurch.
Ms Simonsen is also the chair of the Auckland Community Housing Provider Network – a network of 21 housing providers in Tāmaki Makaurau. She was previously chair of Monte Cecilia Housing Trust for six years.
Ruth BerryTangata Tiriti (Co-Director)
Ruth has played several significant roles within the building sector, most recently in the BRANZ Research Strategy Group as the Construction Systems Working Group Project Manager.
She was also Executive Officer for the Independent Research Association of New Zealand as well as being one of the BRANZ representatives on the IRANZ committee.
Lena HenryNgāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa
Lena has worked as a Planner since 1999, primarily working with local government, iwi authorities, and community organisations. She is a Lecturer at the School of Architecture and Planning, University of Auckland. Her specialist teaching, supervisory, and research interests include:
Indigenous and local government relationships in [post]colonial societies
Mātauranga Māori and planning
The application of dual urban planning methods
Planning for diversity, difference, and equality
Lena’s research contributes to the broader discipline of indigenous planning and her PhD study is focused on the pursuit of Tino Rangatiratanga in the 21st Century.
Dr Murray Poulter
Murray, originally from Motueka, is a former NIWA Chief Scientist. His research career included work in the UK, Germany, US, Canada and Antarctica. Murray has skills in governance, environmental research, and science management.
As part of his role in NIWA, he was involved in setting up and overseeing multi-agency collaborations including the Natural Hazards Platform, The NZ Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, and the National e-Science Infrastructure.
Murray has also chaired the BRANZ Levy Allocation Advisory Group. He currently lives in Tasman and is Deputy Chair of the Nelson Marlborough Department of Conservation Board and a Trustee of the Tasman Environmental Trust.
Rihi comes to the Challenge from the Ngā Wai ā te Tui Māori and Indigenous Research Centre, Te Whare Wananga o Wairaka – Unitec.
Rihi’s research ideas and knowledge are committed to developing and empowering whānau to grow whānau agency and capability skills.
Gena Moses-Te KaniCo-ChairNgāti Kuia te Iwi, Kurahaupo te Waka
Gena is the technical lead for the Iwi Leaders Group for Housing of the National Iwi Chairs Forum working with and for iwi on housing issues, promoting active treaty partnership with Crown agencies, and influencing appropriate policy across the sector.
Gena also leads iwi environmental management for large infrastructure projects which have successfully implemented a treaty partnership in a public private partnership (PPP). She is involved in a range of innovative boards and advisory groups including the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu.
Dr Hope Tupara
Hope is an experienced Māori leader with extensive governance experience and a background in public health research, including wider housing and community issues. She is a ministerial appointment on the National Ethics Advisory Committee and president of Ikaroa Region Māori Women’s Welfare League.
Dr Tupara is also a former chair of Te Rūnanga o Turanganui a Kiwa and Ngāi Tāmanuhiri Iwi Trust, and was an iwi chair on the Whānau Ora Partnership Group. The Whānau Ora Partnership Group, made up of equal numbers of iwi chairs and government ministers, provides strategic leadership for Whānau Ora including the Whānau Ora Outcomes Framework.
