A University of Auckland Māori and Pacific housing research centre is urging the Government not to rely on the private sector to provide social housing.
Dr Karamia Müller, Co-Director of MĀPIHI Māori and Pacific Housing Research Centre at Waipapa Taumata Rau, says the state should not be “let off the hook” for its housing obligations.
“Minister Bishop has said he’s agnostic about which sector of society delivers social housing. We would ask that he keeps faith,” said Dr Müller.
“For Pacific communities, the real concern is that by not caring either way if social housing is provided by the government or privately, then decisionmakers might not care if Pacific housing needs are met at all.
“It’s imperative that the government meets the housing needs of Aotearoa’s Pacific population, otherwise this group faces significantly worse housing conditions.”
Research shows Pacific people tend to live in lower cost housing, in rental housing rather than in homes they own, and more Pacific families live in ‘overcrowded’ homes, she says.
“People may ask how do Pacific housing needs differ from social housing needs of other groups?
“For a start, there is a vastly higher likelihood that Pacific families have multi-generational households,” Dr Müller says.
Accessibility is a concern, as housing is seldom designed with older, more frail people in mind, she says.
“There are frequent stories of Pacific family members being unable to access upstairs bedrooms and having to permanently sleep in the lounge.”
“Although there are more than 85 community housing providers (CHPs) of varying sizes, there is only one provider focused on New Zealand’s Pacific population – Penina Trust.
“We need the Government to fulfil its responsibility to providing housing for Pacific people, through both Kāinga Ora and community housing providers,” says Dr Müller.
