Past Newsletters
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How to create a sustainable small-home pocket neighbourhood &
Council support with zoning change
27 Oct 2022
The Future Development Strategy for Councils in Aotearoa
And why you should care
10 Oct 2022
Tiny Home Community, Permaculture Designed
A model for creating connected, affordable, sustainable neighbourhoods for tiny home dwellers
Sept 2022
1 August 2023
Helping councils enable community-led, regenerative housing
Whakatāne District Council responds to community's call
Are you frustrated with your local Council's lack of action when it comes to housing that truly meets people's needs and aspirations?
Do you feel burdened by rules and regulations that seem unfair or excessively costly, especially in the midst of a housing crisis that has left many people struggling to find affordable and decent shelter?
You're not alone. Across the country, concerned citizens are raising their voices, highlighting the contradiction between the purpose of local government and its actions and attitudes towards grassroots housing solutions.
The Local Government Act of 2002 states the “purpose of local government is to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities and to promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities.” However, many councils seem to be falling short of this mandate, leaving their residents in housing stress and desperate for solutions.
One glimmer of hope emerged recently in the Whakatāne District Council, where a group of passionate and concerned residents took it upon themselves to address the housing crisis head-on. This grassroots effort, known as the WHARE (Whakatāne Housing Action Reform Enthusiasts), caught the attention of the council, leading to a positive response that emphasizes community-focused solutions.
Wanting to take a proactive approach to the community's concerns, the Whakatāne District Council's Homelessness Prevention Alliance invited me to run workshops on community-led and regenerative housing solutions.
The first workshop for council planners and housing professionals delved into the technical aspects, with discussions revolving around the potential reforms and local government involvement that could pave the way for community-led housing projects. Real-life case studies were presented, drawing upon successful policy reform and research reports.
The second workshop was open to the public. This session provided concrete examples of community-led housing models, both from national and international projects. Participants were also inspired by stories of communities advocating for and leading their own housing developments.
Beyond the structured workshops, I took the time to meet with the Senior Community Development Advisor and council planners, as well as members of the WHARE group. These informal meetings provided an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the values, aspirations, and challenges faced by both the community and the council.
The result of these efforts was incredibly positive. Bringing together diverse stakeholders and professionals allowed for discussions that may not have otherwise taken place. Participants left the workshops feeling empowered with newfound clarity, direction, and open to exploring innovative possibilities.
It is refreshing to witness a council taking proactive steps to address the housing crisis and involve the community in meaningful decision-making. The Whakatāne District Council's approach can serve as an inspiration for other local governments struggling to find ways to meet and respond to the housing needs of their residents, particularly those that are housing themselves unconventionally.
So, if you find yourself disheartened by your local council's lack of action, take inspiration from the Whakatāne example. Speak up, mobilize your community, seek to collaborate with your local council on solutions that prioritize the well-being of people over bureaucratic red tape. Together, we can build a future where everyone has a place they can call home.
Karen Summerhays, Senior Community Development Advisor for the Whakatāne District Council, summed up the events well.
The technical workshop provided an opportunity for people from the different groups to connect and we were able to have some very meaningful discussions, identify some of the barriers to enabling community-led housing and explore some practical solutions.
It was generally felt that a local housing strategy would help bring focus on the types of housing we need and would give validity to the various [community-led] housing models available, including tiny houses and multigenerational housing.
My observations over the day was that the sessions helped build a common language for when we are talking about Community-led housing and Zola did a great job in providing descriptions of the different types of [collective] housing models and how they fit on the housing spectrum (seen slide in her presentation link below). She also covered different aspects of land tenure with an emphasis on the benefits of Community Land Trusts (CLT) as a way of maintaining housing affordability and security of tenure.
Community Land Trusts seemed to be something that the group thought could work well in the District, acknowledging that there is very little publicly owned land that could be transferred into a CLT so any land would need to be found from other landholders.
The public presentation was well received and attracted lots of questions from very interested people.
What’s next for Whakatāne…
The consultation was the first step in an ongoing collaboration between council and the community and has given the foundation for an integrated and community-informed housing strategy.
I will be hosting Ruth on Tuesday 5 September at 6:30pm on the Women Revolutionising Housing (WRH) network’s online learning forum to share about her journey on activating Council to respond the community’s housing needs and the continuing work of WHARE. Sign up for the WRH network here to be notified of that event.
Ruth's presentation will be recorded so if you can't make the presentation (or if you identify as a man), I will make the recording available on the Common Ground YouTube channel.