National Māori Housing Conference - Bay of Islands

Earlier this month our organisation sent a team to the National Māori Housing Conference in Paihia.  Over three days, we dived in to kōrero about unity, innovation, and collaboration. There were inspiring keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, and wānanga that really got us thinking. Shamubeel Eaqub gave a powerful take on the housing economy, and Minister Tama Potaka shared insights on policy pathways. We even heard from International speakers such as Janice Ikeda of Vibrant Hawai‘i, whose stories about community-led housing and leadership were truly uplifting. 

The breakout sessions were packed with practical ideas — papakāinga development , accessible housing, taitamariki initiatives, sustainability and funding models for community projects(including one led by our own Sam Rotohiko!). A cultural bus tour gave us a close look at Ngāpuhi’s housing projects, and the papakāinga masterclass offered real-world strategies for co-design and tackling land challenges. We even managed to catch up for kai with Tai Timu Tai Pari CEO William Kaipo to discuss prototype learnings from the Te Pūkāea front door and shifting services from Oranga Tamariki to Iwi.

For us, this wasn’t just a conference — it was a spark, a call to action, and really cemented the importance of continuing to korero with Iwi and hapu to collaborate on housing strategies in our region. The connections we made and the insights we gained will guide our mahi as we keep pushing kaupapa Māori housing forward, building strong partnerships, and creating warm, safe homes where whānau can thrive.

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