Māori experiences of social housing in Ōtautahi Christchurch

This article presents selected findings of a twelve-month-long research project exploring the lived experiences of Māori social housing tenants residing in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Over the last five years, Aotearoa New Zealand has seen unprecedented social housing demand. There is currently an overrepresentation of Māori experiencing housing need and awaiting placement into social housing, yet studies on this topic are limited. This research narrates the lived experience of Māori social housing tenants. It recounts experiences of social housing placement and explores the interactions tenants have with each other and their surrounding environment to create and maintain a sense of community within their housing placements. This article presents a complex understanding of Māori tenant experience centred on people finding a place to belong. Through utilising a Kaupapa Māori research framework and using semi-structured interviews, this qualitative research describes the process of creating a home as moving beyond the individual house. It highlights how the experience of ‘home’ for Māori tenants is governed by where you live and with whom you live with. Ultimately, the results presented emphasise the relevance of incorporating a Māori worldview into social housing provision to create environments that support Māori wellbeing.