MAIHI Ka Ora – the National Māori Housing Strategy

MAIHI Ka Ora – the National Māori Housing Strategy – elevates the Māori and Iwi Housing Innovation (MAIHI) Framework for Action, providing a strategic direction that puts Māori at the heart of Aotearoa New Zealand's housing system.

About MAIHI Ka Ora  

Rather than being just a government strategy, MAIHI Ka Ora was developed in partnership with Māori, for Māori. For MAIHI Ka Ora to succeed, Government agencies must work with each other and with Māori in genuine partnership over the next 30 years towards a shared vision that all whānau have safe, healthy, affordable homes with secure tenure, across the Māori housing continuum.  

Download a copy of the strategy in Te reo Māori.

Download a copy of the strategy in English.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi 

The strategy is an expression of the articles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It sees the Government using its levers (Article One of Te Tiriti o Waitangi) to enable Māori-led local housing solutions (Article Two) so Māori housing aspirations are achieved. If the Crown and Māori work together, the strategy will provide oritetanga (Article Three), equity. 

Priorities  

Not having secure housing has big implications for whānau wellbeing. Today we are seeing: 

  • the most vulnerable whānau living in inadequate housing e.g. tents and garages 
  • some whānau living in overcrowded houses 
  • whānau living in motels without a clear way into more secure or longer-term housing 
  • whānau getting 'stuck' in public housing dependence 
  • stress and poor mental and physical health 
  • disruption for tamariki and poor performance at school 
  • difficulty holding down a job 
  • intergenerational dependency on the state 
  • disconnection from whānau and whenua. 

MAIHI Ka Ora identifies six priorities to address these issues: 

MAIHI Ka Ora identifies six priorities to address these issues:

Māori/Crown partnerships

A strong Māori Crown partnership is critical to successfully strengthening housing solutions for whānau.

Māori-led local solutions

Previous 'one size fits all' approaches to Māori housing haven't worked. A focus on Māori-led local solutions will deliver fit-for-purpose housing solutions that take a 'by Māori for Māori' approach.

Māori housing supply

There isn't enough quality, affordable housing for whānau to rent or own. More houses need to be built, and they need to fit the needs of all Māori. Housing supply needs to provide a mix of solutions, from houses to rent or buy, through to houses for people who want to return to their own land and live with their whānau in papakāinga.

Māori housing support

Provide whānau with better access to support that helps them get into their preferred form of housing and stay there.

Māori housing system

The current housing system is fragmented and not easily accessible. Change the system so it supports Māori to provide Māori-led housing solutions.

Māori housing sustainability

Support whanau to sustain a connection to their land and look at ways to make housing solutions sustainable, innovative and responsive to the effects of climate change.

MAIHI Ka Ora and the Government Policy Statement on Housing and Urban Development 

MAIHI Ka Ora has been developed alongside the Government Policy Statement on Housing and Urban Development (GPS-HUD), so they have cohesive and consistent approaches, actions, and goals.  

See the Government Policy Statement on Housing and Urban Development 

MAIHI Ka Ora Implementation Plan 

While MAIHI Ka Ora sets out the vision for Māori housing for the next 30 years, the Implementation Plan focuses on what needs to happen over the next three to four years to take us a step closer to the MAIHI Ka Ora vision. It identifies: 

  • specific actions and key deliverables 
  • a lead agency which will be responsible for bringing together the right agencies and organisations to deliver those actions 
  • how these actions are grounded by the principles set out in the MAIHI Framework for Action 
  • how success will be measured 
  • delivery timeframes. 

MAIHI Ka Ora and the Implementation Plan will be reviewed every three years, at the same time as the Government Policy Statement on Housing and Urban Development (GPS-HUD). 

Read the Implementation Plan.

 

Related