THE WOVEN UNIVERSE #935 - BUILDING THE NET: THE MULTI-GENERATIONAL PAPAKĀINGA
The Evolution of the Communal Solution
Our journey into the physical manifestation of sovereignty has evolved from a single theoretical blueprint into a comprehensive strategy for multi-generational living. Sovereignty is not a static legal state; it is a lived experience that requires housing to be sensitive to Māori whānau dynamics and responsive to our relationship with the whenua. Since the initialisation of the Pehiāweri Marae papakāinga project, the research has expanded to address the systemic barriers and technical design requirements necessary to sustain our people across their entire lifespans.
This updated framework moves beyond simply "housing Māori" and into the realm of true "Māori housing", environments where our culture and reo can thrive through mahitahi (working together) and kotahitanga (cohesion).
Navigating Systemic Barriers
To build the "unbreakable net" of our communities, we must first navigate the complex regulatory and financial landscapes that have historically acted as barriers. Māori land, while inalienable and held in communal ownership under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, often faces obstacles that general land does not.
Key Jurisdictional Challenges:
Zoning and Planning: Much ancestral land is zoned as countryside or rural, creating restrictions on the density required for true papakāinga living.
Financial Access: Obtaining finance for communally owned land remains a primary hurdle, requiring innovative, alternative finance options beyond traditional banking products.
Infrastructure Costs: Resource consent costs and development contributions often disproportionately affect Māori housing initiatives.
Despite these hurdles, strategic directions like He Whare Āhuru, He Oranga Tangata provide a government commitment to improving outcomes, though local implementation and monitoring remain vital.
Design for the Generations
The net of our society is strongest when it accommodates every generation simultaneously. Recent research into multi-generational housing highlights the need for flexible layouts that can be reconfigured as whānau needs change over time.
Technical Requirements for Intergenerational Success:
Flexible Typologies: The use of duplexes with interconnecting doors or "two-over-one" units allows for a balance of privacy and togetherness.
Functional Layouts: Internal spaces must maximise functionality, particularly in kitchens and living areas, to support larger household clusters.
Universal Design: Incorporating accessible entries, bathrooms, and bedrooms on the ground floor ensures that homes cater to diverse and changing household needs.
Cultural Protocols: Design must account for specific needs such as tangihanga (funeral rites), which may require the separation of food preparation areas from spaces used for mourning.
The Material Link to Papatūānuku
The foundation of the papakāinga remains grounded in the materials of the land itself. Investigating pressed earth brick as a primary construction material for external walls provides more than just structural integrity. By using raw materials and "sweat equity" through local trades training, whānau can leverage their own labour to meet financial requirements.
As tangata whenua, living in houses made of the earth intensifies the link to Papatūānuku as a provider of hauora (wellbeing). This holistic approach ensures the social, cultural, and economic regeneration of our communities.
Conclusion: Anchoring the Future
The 2040 roadmap is the physical occupation of our truth. From the participatory action research at Pehiāweri to the modern guidelines for multi-generational architecture, we are building a network that accommodates the fluctuating dynamics of whānau life. We are no longer building houses for individuals; we are building an abode for mana.
This post integrates the architectural research of Jade Kake and her colleagues across three articles:
